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The Revd Tom Britt tells us about his vocation as a hospital chaplain

13 December 2024

The Revd Tom Britt tells us about his vocation as a hospital chaplain and the work of the ecumenical and multi-faith chaplaincy team which covers both Queen’s Hospital and King George’s hospital in Goodmayes:

Hospital Chapliacy - TomBritt Lisensing

"In curacy, I listened to how God was calling me to a ministry rooted in showing compassion and being alongside the vulnerable on the margins. I did a two-year chaplaincy placement at Queen’s hospital in Romford alongside my parish role and gradually I felt drawn to this vocation.

"When my curacy ended, I successfully applied for a fulltime position as a chaplain at Queen’s and King George’s hospitals. “Hospital chaplains support patients, relatives and staff members; we draw alongside people in times of sorrow, share in their joy and help them find hope. As a chaplaincy team we devote considerable time to giving emotional and spiritual support, in contrast, we spend comparatively much less time providing religious support. Spiritual support invites people to reflect on what matters most to them: this includes sharing stories, reflecting on how they find hope or talking about their favourite football team.

“Chaplains are pastorally proactive; we reach out to people on wards, on corridors and in the hospital café, in short, wherever God leads us. We give emotional support to the sick and are a pastoral and religious presence to the dying and their families. We also prioritise supporting staff who turn to us in all kinds of situations, such as when they are grieving or when they have experienced trauma at work.

“This ministry is challenging and emotionally draining, but there are moments when I encounter hope and joy. This ministry follows the example of Jesus who showed compassion to everyone, especially those experiencing suffering; chaplains minister to all, including a patient experiencing mental health issues or parents who have had a baby loss and ask for naming prayers for their baby who has died.

“As a Chaplaincy team we are very thankful for the chaplaincy volunteers who share their gifts through supporting people in Queen’s and King George’s hospitals. It is a privilege to be part of a multi-faith chaplaincy team of staff and volunteers from different religious backgrounds, providing a 24-hour service for everyone, including people of all faiths and those with none.”

This article has been taken from the latest edition of WePray, our quarterly prayer diary which brings together our Cycle of Prayer and stories from across our Diocese.