Chaplaincy in Portsmouth Diocese
They are in the frontline of our Christian ministry to the wider world. The chaplains who work in our hospitals, prisons, universities, naval base, schools and colleges are in a unique position. They get alongside staff in their workplace, support patients, inmates and students through traumatic times, and offer worship services in conveniently-located chapels. They are on the spot when families feel under pressure, often ministering to people who would never dream of walking into their parish church. They bring Church to where people already are, rather than expecting them to come into church buildings. They also usually work collaboratively with those of other denominations, and their role is more to do with mission than maintenance.
These are the chaplains or ‘sector ministers’ who work in our diocese. As well as the naval, university, hospital and prison chaplains whose work is outlined on these pages, there are also chaplains to Asda supermarkets in the diocese, to Portsmouth Football Club, to the Rowans Hospice and to the Gunwharf Quays retail complex.
University chaplain, Canon Peter Jones, who has also worked as a hospital chaplain, said: ‘Chaplaincy often happens in the world of work, and mission is defined in terms of knowing what’s going on in a particular institution. ‘It’s about dealing with the special pressures of that context, which are often to do with change management, and saying there is a place for God there. ‘People come into hospitals and prisons because their lives have been disrupted, and they may be quite traumatised. They may feel disoriented or even de-humanised. ‘Students may also feel traumatised about a new routine, different ways of learning, being away from home and feeling money pressures. So there are lots of uncertainties. ‘As well as being ecumenical, chaplaincies these days often have to be multi-faith. We may only have two or three Muslim in-patients in Portsmouth hospitals each day, but we need to have direct contact with world faith leaders in the wider community so we can help such patients.’
The Rev Mike Johnston also spans two different kinds of chaplaincy. He is an assistant chaplain at St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight and heads the chaplaincy team at Kingston Prison in Portsmouth. ‘There are similarities, but chaplaincy works in very different ways in the two institutions,’ he said. ‘In prison, the chaplain’s role is very much entrenched into the system. You are part of a national organisation and have certain rights and responsibilities for instance, I have an active role in helping with sentence management and my reports about prisoners may go to the parole board. ‘That’s quite a macho, male environment, whereas hospitals are a more caring, female environment. You are less part of the system in fact some hospitals may choose not to have chaplains at all.’
