Embracing Diversity and Spirituality: The Inspiring Journey of GOSH's Multifaith Chaplaincy Team

 Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) is not just a place of medical expertise and care; it is also a place where diverse faith traditions come together, embracing the power of spirituality to uplift and support and heal. At the heart of this, is the amazing multifaith chaplaincy team, which has evolved over time to better serve the spiritual needs of patients, their families and staff.  

Regardless of whether someone belongs to a religious or faith community or not, members of the Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care team at GOSH are here for you. Their journey is one of inclusivity, compassion, and collaboration, resulting in a hospital community that cherishes and celebrates its diversity.  

Chaplaincy, spiritual and physical care will always be a necessary part of healthcare as they address our shared humanity and striving for hope, meaning making, transcendence and relationship. 

says Jim, the retired Head of Spiritual Care at GOSH.

Within the hospital community, the chaplaincy team stands as a well-known source of support and solace. With compassion and understanding, they provide pastoral emotional support counselling and provide for the spiritual needs of patients and families.  

Embracing diverse beliefs, they offer prayers, conduct services, bereavement care and facilitate rituals. Beyond the hospital, they forge connections through community outreach, to enhance the work they do at the hospital. They visit wards throughout the week and are available to patients, families and staff 24/7, 365 days of the year. 

The team currently consists of a diverse group of paid chaplains who provide spiritual care services. The team includes a Head of Spiritual Care, a Deputy Team Leader, and a Senior Christian Chaplain, Senior Muslim Chaplain, a Roman Catholic Chaplain, 2 Christian Generic Chaplains, a Muslim Female Chaplain, and an Imam. 

In addition to the paid chaplains, there are other volunteers involved in the team. This includes 1 Rabbi, 2 Muslim Chaplains, 1 Jewish Chaplain, 1 Roman Catholic Chaplain, 3 Anglican Chaplains, 2 Roman Catholic Friars (who are also attached to the Embassy of Malta), and 1 Administrator.  

The chaplaincy team at GOSH has undergone a remarkable transformation since its humble beginnings. Starting with the construction of the Chapel in 1875 by the 1950s, the original arrangements were under strain. Previously, the services were conducted by clergy from St. George the Martyr in Queen Square, with the management of the Chapel largely handled by the Matron's office.

In 1983, the original conditions were dissolved, and the first paid in-house Anglican Chaplain was appointed. 

The Chaplaincy service was once dedicated mainly to Christian faith practices. For other faiths, the hospital administrator would inform the local organisations when individuals of different religious denominations requested their involvement.

Over time, the team has evolved to meet the changing needs of the community. 

After, the Chapel's original location in the 1875 clinical block, was demolished in 1990 to make room for the construction of the Variety Club Building. The chapel was carefully preserved and subsequently relocated to the new building.

In November 1994, as the Chapel became operational once again, two adjoining Chaplaincy rooms were added. These rooms served as spaces for one-on-one sessions and provided an office for the team. Around the same time, the first multi-faith room was established, initially located on the Level 2 corridor of the Southwood Building. They also appointed their first Rabbi and Imam to meet the evolving spiritual needs of GOSH patients. 

In 2008, GOSH recognised the demand for female chaplaincy within the Muslim community, to support Muslim patients and families, especially mothers. In response, they created a female chaplain training program, leading to the appointment of one of their first female Muslim Chaplain. In 2011, after conducting a review of service users, when the team found that the majority preferred a female to male Muslim chaplain, another female Muslim was appointed. She has gone on to be one of the first female Muslim Senior Chaplains in the UK. 

The physical spaces dedicated to religious practice within GOSH have also undergone remarkable changes. Through charity fundraising, sacred spaces such as the Muslim Prayer Room, the Shabbat Room,  St. Christopher Chapel, and the reflection and quiet room have been created. These spaces serve as sanctuaries of comfort, offering peace and a sense of belonging to patients, families, and staff members. 

With each passing year, GOSH celebrates an increasing number of multi-faith festivals, ensuring that every religious tradition feels represented and respected. From Eid, Diwali and Purim to Easter and Christmas. The hospital community comes together to honour and embrace diverse faiths. 

The transition to a multifaith chaplaincy team was not without its challenges. Resource allocation was a significant hurdle, which they overcame through the generosity of the Charity, hospital staff and community support. This commitment to the service allows the chaplaincy team to thrive and ensures that no spiritual need goes unmet. The team provide support to families with complex spiritual and religious needs. For instance, when families in mixed marriages have different spiritual beliefs, the chaplaincy team provides support by accommodating their individual faith traditional rituals.

In some cases, families have sought help in chaplains from different faiths, such as a Buddhist and Hindu family found comfort in a Muslim chaplain due to the strong relationship they had built. The wider chaplaincy team also supported the family throughout their difficult journey, ending in a memorial service held in the chapel. These examples exemplify the transformative power of compassionate spiritual care. The team's dedication to providing comprehensive support, regardless of faith traditions, has touched countless lives and fostered he wholeness and wellbeing.

This spirit of collaboration extends beyond the chaplaincy team, as partnerships with external religious organisations enrich the spiritual care provided. Charities like Helping Little Muslims, a Muslim group that ensures all patients, regardless of their faith, receive Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha gifts. Camp Simcha, a Jewish charity, has been instrumental in facilitating their celebrations of the Jewish faith, including Hanukkah and Purim as well as providing a variety of support mechanisms throughout the Trust. Another Jewish charity, Ezra'u'Marpeh, ensures that the Shabbat Room is maintained as well as stocked with kosher food and meals for the Sabbath. The Soho Square Hare Krishna Temple, a central London Hindu Temple, occasionally provides educational resources and emergency visiting services. The Sikh Healthcare Chaplaincy Group is well-known to the Trust for their regular visits and Sikh resources. The Buddhist Society also lends support by providing resources and emergency visiting services. Additionally, the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network has supported the Team through appropriate philosophical outreach as well as resources and emergency support. These diverse charities have been invaluable in ensuring the well-being and spiritual care of the patients and staff from various religious backgrounds. 

Regular services are also hosted for various faiths, including Islamic Friday Prayers, Roman Catholic Christian worship, and ecumenical Christian worship, are held, while signposting and collaboration with nearby events ensure that everyone's spiritual needs are met. 

Utilising the GOSH value of the child always being first, the team also liaises with Young People’s Forum to gather ideas for future celebrations to ensure inclusivity.

Looking to the future, the multifaith chaplaincy team at GOSH envisions continued growth, expansion, and impact. They aim to develop their resources, expand their team, and establish spiritual care as an integral part of the hospital's ethos. Great Ormond Street Hospital stands not only as a beacon of medical excellence, but also as a shining example of the power of embracing diversity and spirituality in healthcare. Through the dedicated efforts of the multifaith chaplaincy team, they have created a hospital community that cherishes and celebrates its diverse array of faith traditions.

Rev Dorothy Moore Brooks, the new Lead Chaplain  & Head of Spiritual Care said:

We are constantly striving to build on the solid foundation of of spiritual care at GOSH.  Our current focus is to broaden our reach.  We are therefore working towards developing our multi-faith team to include faith and belief groups currently under-represented.  In partnership with colleagues from other teams and community faith groups, we are also trying to raise awareness and by celebrating a more diverse range of major festivals we celebrate each year in the hospital.