Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care
The Chaplaincy-Spiritual Care Team is here for everyone.
We are a multi-faith, multi-denominational team who offer spiritual and religious care to patients, staff, visitors and volunteers. You do not have to think of yourself as ‘religious’ to make use of our service.
Some people may value the opportunity to talk to someone about what is happening to them and how they feel about the changes they may be facing.
For many patients, being ill and/or experiencing a trauma of some kind can turn their world upside down. It can challenge their identity – who they are, how they see themselves and their relationships.
Our aim is to enhance patient and carer experience and offer support to staff.
What is spiritual care?
Spiritual care doesn’t have to be religious.
Spiritual care is about valuing and respecting who people are, whatever their religion, culture, background, gender or sexuality.
The spiritual care team at St George’s have no agenda or tick lists. Instead, we aim to simply be there, to support patients, relatives and staff alike through both the extraordinary and the ordinary.
We offer
- Support for you, your relatives or friends.
- Time and space to explore your thoughts and feelings.
- A caring, sensitive and non-judgmental ear.
- Religious care in response to your individual needs.
- Support for staff.
Weekly events and services in the Spiritual Care Centre at St George’s
- Muslim Friday Prayers, every Friday 1pm Tooting Grove Hall
- ‘Refresh’ a time of Christian worship and reflection (an inclusive service for all) Wednesdays 11.00 to 11.30am in the chapel
- Roman Catholic Mass Monday to Friday 12 noon
- Christian/Church of England service on Friday at 1pm
- Meet with a Chaplain for prayer or to share anything on your heart every Friday 1.30pm in the chapel. For patients, their families, and staff of any faith background or none. (Please note you can also request time with a chaplain by calling switchboard on 020 8672 1255)
- Please note the male and female Muslim prayers room, the multifaith room and the Christian chapel are open for private prayer 24/7
Services of Remembering
Chaplains organise a variety of services of remembering each year to remember those who have died. These include: pregnancy loss, neonatal, paediatric and organ donation services.
The services are designed for those of all faiths and none. Family members, alongside staff from various disciplines often take part in the services. Attendance numbers strongly suggest that this is a very worthwhile service, offering people a space to remember people who have died in a sensitive and supportive way. Whether it is through the lighting of individual candles, writing messages or placing ribbons on the memory tree, these are emotional and moving occasions. Following each service there is an opportunity for people to stay for refreshments. This can be an important moment for families to meet each other and share their experiences of loss.