A new chapel has been dedicated and blessed at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.
Rt Rev Rhiannon King, Bishop of Southampton, said the chapel and its chaplains would be a "beacon of hope” to hospital patients and staff. She led the dedication service with Rt Rev Karen Gorham, Bishop of Sherborne.
Hospital redevelopment has enabled the chapel to move into the centre of the facility, close to the main entrance and shop, rather than being away on the east wing.
The chapel was “dedicated as a safe space to support people in times of deep sadness and joy”, according to the Diocese of Winchester. Prayers were said for those awaiting treatment, families at their bedside, and the 9,000 hospital staff across the trust.
Bishop Rhiannon said: “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.”
During the service, James Taylor was licensed for ministry as lead chaplain of University Hospitals Dorset. He said: “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.”
Chaplains and a team of volunteers are based in the hospital seven days a week, carrying out visits on wards and being on call at night. The chapel holds regular services and worship, and is working with the maternity unit to develop support in situations such as baby loss.
Dave Chambers, chaplain volunteer, believes a “camaraderie of a good team from all different denominations” makes the team work strongly in their mission to “serve people from all walks of life”.
“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,” he added.
Ian Thorpe, chaplain for the emergency department, praised the relationship the team has with hospital staff, who direct chaplains to situations “with confidence”.