Asda chaplain Shaun lends a friendly ear to colleagues and customers

Each week Pastor Shaun Keating swaps the church aisles for the food aisles as he offers friendly advice, support and spiritual guidance to customers and colleagues at our Taunton store.

Shaun, who's been a baptist minister for 16 years and is based at Halcon Baptist Church, has visited the store as part of the Taunton Team Chaplaincy every Thursday morning for the past nine years.

He said: "I just have a general chat with colleagues and customers, and if they have any problems or situations going on then I can signpost them to people who can help them if needed.

"I have a very good relationship with the colleagues and the shoppers. Sometimes they just ask me for advice on life and sometimes for prayers. I don't put pressure on people. I don't go in there mentioning godly things, I'm there to support and listen mainly and help them as best I can. I'm a good listener. People like to share things. I love coming to Asda each week; it's a privilege to be able to help."

Fifty-nine-year-old Shaun, who also works as a landscape gardener, said: "If it's a delicate situation we always go somewhere quiet to talk and if people want to speak to me privately afterwards they can."

Fifty-nine-year-old Shaun, who also works as a landscape gardener, said: "If it's a delicate situation we always go somewhere quiet to talk and if people want to speak to me privately afterwards they can."

He's been married to Katherine for 35 years and has two grown-up sons, Nathaniel and Isaac.

Shaun said: "I often see members of my congregation at Asda on a Thursday and then in church on a Sunday."

Mary Ulrico, who recently retired as community champion at the store, said: "Shaun does a fantastic job as chaplain – he is just so well known on the estate and in Taunton. He is so friendly and helpful and will go out of this way to do anything for anybody.

"If someone needs help or has an inquiry about something then they'd go to him. If he didn't know the answer he'd know someone who would. 

"We are like the village shop and if Shaun recognises people in the store who maybe are on their own and lonely then he'll go over and chat to them. Colleagues and regular customers love him and look out for him when he comes in.

"He also helps with the monthly Asda community litter pick too. When I was community colleague he helped me such a lot."