Bishop Rhiannon has dedicated and blessed a new chapel at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital, which opened last year following redevelopment of the hospital site.
Previously the chapel had been tucked away on the first floor of the hospital’s east wing, but it is now situated in the heart of the hospital, close to the main entrance and shop. For the thousands of patients who use pass through the hospital each year and the 9,000 staff across the Hospital Trust, it offers a quiet space and support for their mental, spiritual and emotional health.
Lead Chaplain Revd James Taylor said, “People who come into our hospitals are usually under some sort of strain. They may have had bad news about a diagnosis, or they may be worried about a family member. It can challenge resilience and prompt the bigger questions of what life is really about. As chaplains, we’re often asked by staff or families to come alongside someone in their final days and to talk about spiritual, pastoral, religious aspects, which other staff can speak about, but it is our particular speciality. What I find exciting about this work is that you can go deep very quickly. If you present as a trusted and credible figure, then people will feel they can speak to you about concerns they may not even share with their own families. It makes a difference to be listened to, and to be seen as whole people, and to know that God is also there.”
The NHS Trust encompasses Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole hospitals, straddling the Dioceses of Winchester and Salisbury, and the service of dedication was led by Bishop Rhiannon and the Right Revd Karen Gorham, Bishop of Sherborne.
Bishop Rhiannon also licensed Revd James as Lead Chaplain of University Hospitals Dorset for ministry in the Diocese of Winchester.
Prayers said for the work of the trust, the decision makers, the staff, those awaiting treatment and families at the bedside. The chapel was dedicated as a safe space to support people in times of deep sadness and joy.
Bishop Rhiannon said, “It’s great to have been here to meet the chaplaincy team. This place and their presence is about being a beacon of hope in this hospital, reaching out to staff and patients with the love of Christ. Their work makes a real difference. One of the beautiful things I witnessed today was that in the congregation was a man who came to faith here in this hospital through the ministry of chaplains. That is what we love to hear.”
Chaplains are based at the hospital 7 days a week, with one chaplain on call each night. They are supported by a team of chaplaincy volunteers and carry out visits across the wards and in public areas of the hospital. The chapel is now in the same building as maternity, critical care and A & E.
Ian Thorpe is a chaplain for the emergency department. He said, “We walk around and talk to people and say ‘How are you? What things are happening for you? What’s happened to bring you into the hospital?’ Often people just want somebody to talk to especially if there’s no one at home and they can be lonely and frightened. We go with no agenda other than to support and encourage, and if there’s a spiritual background to the individual, we can offer to pray with them and that’s often valued.
“As with anything, effective chaplaincy is based on relationships so we’re building those lines of communication with staff, senior staff, nurses, because when there is an issue, we can be directed to that situation with confidence by the team. The staff then know where to get support as well.”
The chapel is open to those of all faiths and none. There’s a Muslim prayer area used regularly by many of the staff and a quiet area with space for contemplation and a prayer tree.
Revd James added, “Every day we will take calls from wards and family members, and also local religious leaders asking us to provide some additional support, be it pastoral or ritual, to their people. We also get more urgent requests to help where situations have become difficult and the chaplain can support. We also have the time to proactively move into the spaces that don’t always call us. We have a wonderful outreach that we’ve been doing to our renal unit, where people come to receive their regular dialysis, and we’ve got to know many people. We’re happy to see them and to offer support to people who might not think to ask for it.”
The chapel offers regular services and times of worship. Chaplains lead the trust in times of remembrance and reflection, such as Armistice Day and Covid Memorial services. They are developing work with the maternity unit to support in situations such as baby loss.
Chaplain Dave Chambers began as a volunteer in the chapel. He said, “I love being a chaplain here. The camaraderie of a good team from all different denominations has been a real insight and we work well and strongly together. What I love about chaplaincy is we get to serve people from all walks of life at the hospital. We meet people you wouldn’t normally meet at church, and we get to minister to them. We get to love them, to show them God’s love, to care for them, and sometimes to talk about Jesus. It’s a blessing to be working in chaplaincy and an honour.”
The two bishops were later given a tour of the new hospital facilities and met some of the staff.
