Prison Chaplaincy

The ex-inmate had found faith in jail, so decided to go to church after his release. He sat next to an elderly lady, who asked him if he was new. “Yes,” he said. “I’ve just come out of prison.” She picked up her handbag and found somewhere else to sit. An ongoing cool reception at church contributed to him losing his faith and re-offending. For the Rev Terry Lane, chaplain at Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight, it’s the kind of story that illustrates the fact that both inmates and church congregations need training to help ex-offenders reintegrate back into the community. When that offender found himself back inside jail, it was Terry who gave him advice about what to say in that situation. The inmate went through a second Alpha course, left prison and now goes to church in Devon.

It’s just one of many kinds of advice he has to give. As the co-ordinator of 15 chaplains ­ and the only full-time one ­ at HMP Parkhurst, he also has to advise catering staff on religious diets and the governor about religious holidays. The 54-year-old had worked as a Hampshire fireman for 25 years ­ during which time he was their chaplain ­ before a serious back injury. After a year working with a charity helping terminally ill children, he became chaplain at Kingston Prison in Portsmouth for two years before moving to Parkhurst in 2001.

The prison holds Church of England and Roman Catholic worship in its chapel ­ with separate services for sex offenders and other ‘vulnerable’ prisoners. The inmates themselves may lead intercessions or give testimonies. There is also a world faiths room used by 60 or so Muslims and those of other faiths. Terry’s responsibilities include visiting every prisoner in the segregation unit or the prison hospital daily. He also sees all new inmates within 24 hours, and often is the person who breaks bad news to them. If a prisoner’s relative has died, he offers to hold a service in the prison chapel at the same time as the funeral. He can also act as a link between prisoners and their families ­ if either side hasn’t heard from the other recently. He is also chaplain to the staff, who talk to him about any concerns. He has married four members of staff, baptised their babies and taken funerals. Prison officers take part in Sunday services too.

“We are shown a lot of respect by the prisoners and the staff, although that respect does have to be earned,” he said. “Even guys who you never see appreciate you being there if you have to break bad news. We also send every prisoner a birthday card, and we loan radios to them.”

The prison is now holding its fifth Alpha course, and there are links with the resettlement of offenders programme run by Holy Trinity Brompton. “We need to do a lot of work in supporting churches in how to deal with ex-offenders, as it does put a lot of pressure on a congregation,” he said.”One of the ways is through ‘community chaplains’, a concept running in Canada where prison chaplains work in the community and set up contacts for the ex-offender.”

The chapel at Parkhurst has been in a temporary room since 1982. Because of its location, it can only be used for Sunday worship. Terry’s dream is to restore the prison’s original purpose-built chapel as a multi-faith chaplaincy centre that can be used throughout the week. He has the support of Bishop Kenneth and diocesan authorities, but it would cost £900,000 to do it.

“I feel that that’s my task before I retire,” he said. “It’s a lovely chapel, and we could use it every night of the week, for quiz nights, courses and Christian rock bands. If some of the guys came into the chapel for that kind of thing, they may return for worship. I know it’s a lot of money, but we are one of the few departments that can help prisoners to change.”  The prison also has a visitors’ scheme, which brings together inmates who have no visitors with volunteers who commit themselves to visiting regularly. There is also a chapel visitors’ scheme, where worshippers offer to be part of a Sunday congregation in the prison chapel. Anyone wanting to volunteer for either position should contact Terry Lane on 01983-554055. Kingston Prison in Portsmouth has a similar chaplaincy system. Contact the Anglican chaplain there on 023 9295 3100.