Anglican Chaplains are dedicated to showing God’s love to everyone they meet. They are the church’s face in the world outside church. They typically provide a listening ear, spiritual guidance, emotional support, religious services and community activities. Chaplains can be ordained or lay ministers.
Anglican Chaplains often work closely with chaplains from other Christian denominations and other religions. They also follow the historical Anglican ideal of caring for all regardless of their religious belief.
Where do chaplains work?
Chaplains usually work within a secular institution such as a hospital, university or shopping centre. They may have a dedicated space, such as a prayer room or chaplaincy centre.
The armed forces
Military chaplains take care of the spiritual and moral wellbeing of servicemen and women and often have to go into dangerous situations with them.
Healthcare
Healthcare chaplains are available to support patients, their families and hospital staff. They are often specialists in grief and loss care, crisis intervention, conflict resolution and the range of services available to patients and staff inside and outside the location.
International communities
Our historic church can be the ideal base for encouraging often isolated ethnic minority church leaders, for enabling them to relate outside their particular ethnic or cultural grouping in order that we may all benefit from their presence in our community so that together we can be witnesses for Jesus our Lord to people who do not yet follow him.
Prisons
Anglican Chaplains work within a multi-faith team to care for the spiritual and emotional wellbeing of prisoners. They also help with practical aspects of prisoner rehabilitation.
Schools
Many Church of England Schools now employ chaplains while others use the expertise of local parish clergy. Chaplains lead assemblies, celebrate the Eucharist and are available to pupils and staff to offer support wherever and whenever it is needed; some chaplains also teach. They can be important in calling others to recognise that the spiritual plays an essential part in human formation.
Universities
University chaplains offer counselling, support and guidance in matters of faith and spiritual development to students and staff. They arrange events to help develop a sense of community within the university.
The workplace
There are numerous chaplains caring for people in workplaces across the diocese. They can be found in places as diverse as shopping centres, law firms, train stations and Heathrow Airport. Workplace chaplains provide emotional support, spiritual guidance and help by being a person to talk to who is not a part of the competitive workplace.
Many parish clergy act as chaplains to local businesses in their parishes.
