Before Christmas, the Bishop of London visited Heathrow’s Multi‑Faith Chaplaincy and Travel Care, meeting the teams who support passengers throughout the year. She spent time in the airport’s prayer spaces and expressed gratitude to colleagues working over the festive period.
As Christmas approached, Bishop Sarah visited Heathrow Airport’s Multi-Faith Chaplaincy and Heathrow Travel Care on 23 December, spending time with chaplains, volunteers and airport colleagues who provide pastoral, spiritual and practical support across one of the world’s busiest transport hubs.
The visit formed one of the Bishop Sarah’s final engagements as Bishop of London and had three key purposes: to gain a deeper understanding of multi-faith chaplaincy in an airport setting, to spend time with colleagues working over the Christmas period, and to learn more about Heathrow’s role within the wider community, particularly in supporting vulnerable people.
During the morning, the Bishop visited St George’s Chapel and the Garden of Remembrance, met chaplaincy colleagues from different faith traditions, and toured Terminal 3, encountering staff from across the airport including passenger experience managers, security teams, rail services, porters and helpers. She also visited the multi-faith prayer rooms and spent time with Heathrow Travel Care, which provides crisis social work and emergency response for distressed and vulnerable passengers.
The Chaplaincy’s compassionate ministry
Heathrow Multi-Faith Chaplaincy serves passengers and staff of all faiths and none, offering care shaped by dignity, welcome and partnership. The chaplaincy works closely with organisations such as Heathrow Travel Care and the British Red Cross, responding to a wide range of situations, from supporting memorial services and humanitarian crises to offering a calm, listening presence for those experiencing anxiety, loneliness or grief.
Bruce Rickards, Lead Anglican Chaplain at Heathrow Multi-Faith Chaplaincy, said:
This visit is so important because it gives us the chance to make Christ known to the people of Heathrow. Having the Bishop here means so much. It shows our colleagues and the wider airport community just how strongly the Church supports the ministry of chaplaincy in this place.
“Every day we encounter a huge variety of situations: working alongside the British Red Cross, supporting memorial services, meeting lonely passengers, or simply praying with someone who needs a moment of peace. The needs are diverse, but the heart of our work is always the same — to be present, compassionate and available. As we look ahead, that calling remains as vital as ever.
Ruth Bottoms, Head of Multi-Faith Chaplaincy at Heathrow, said:
We were delighted to welcome the Bishop of London and share the breadth of multi faith chaplaincy work taking place every day across the airport. Christmas can be a joyful but difficult time for many passengers and colleagues, and our teams often meets people at moments of stress, uncertainty or transition. It was good to show Bishop Sarah the range of pastoral, spiritual and practical support offered here.
“It means a great deal for our chaplaincy team to have their work recognised and affirmed, not only for what they do at Christmas but for the quiet, compassionate presence they offer throughout the year. Frontline Heathrow colleagues who were going to be working over Christmas who met Bishop Sarah also felt hugely encouraged by her presence and interest in them.
Pastoral care across Heathrow Airport
Reflecting on the visit, the Bishop Sarah spoke about the importance of spaces for stillness and remembrance within the airport. She said:
For anyone travelling through Heathrow who needs a moment of stillness, there are the multi-faith prayer rooms, as well as St George’s Chapel, which is used at key times of the year. There is also the memorial garden, where we remember those who have died.
What has struck me today is how present the chaplains are across the airport, out on the floors, responding to people who are anxious, stressed or lonely, or simply wanting someone to pray with them. They are a listening ear and a source of compassion, woven into the very fabric of Heathrow. It is wonderful to see the depth of care they offer to passengers and staff alike.
The visit took place during a particularly busy period, with millions of passengers expected to travel through Heathrow over December and thousands of colleagues working throughout the Christmas season. Bishop Sarah expressed her gratitude to those who keep the airport running and care for its community at such a demanding time.
She said:
Thank you to everyone at Heathrow who keeps things moving over Christmas.