Chaplaincy

"When the lights of health go down, undiscovered countries of the spirit are discovered." (Virginia Woolf)

"What is the point of you lot, then?"
(Hospice patient to Chaplain)

Human beings are complex and fragile things, with a variety of needs. When illness strikes, we may find ourselves in need of a range of physical and emotional support, and also perhaps in spiritual need. For some this will be expressed in terms of a religious faith, but for all of us the search for love, meaning and purpose, for hope, dignity and understanding on the journey of life represent values at the heart of spiritual care.

Within the Hospice movement, an exciting recent development has been the recognition that everyone contributes to spiritual care on different levels, from informal acts of kindness and consideration, to the caring attitudes and practice of volunteers and staff, to Chaplains who are generally available to all, as well as ensuring people have the support of their religious belief.

Hospices aim to be places responding to those with progressive or terminal illness, with an immense pastoral and human care, mixed with enormous optimism about life and the future.

Chaplaincy teams are available to patients and Day Hospice visitors, to relatives and friends and staff, regardless of whether or not a person would see themselves as religious. It is also possible to make contact with representatives of other World Faiths.

In-patient and Day Hospice areas are visited regularly, and chaplains are often asked to respond to requests, which may range from helping to plan a funeral to sitting and having a chat about the football.

The chaplains also plan and facilitate memorial and monthly worship services, quiet time for reflection, and are involved with special services such as “Light Up a Life” in December.

One of the chaplains attends the weekly meetings at Overgate to complement the multi-disciplinary approach to care.

All the chaplains consider it a privilege to be involved in the provision of care which Overgate provides for the community.