Interview Coaching for Chaplaincy Posts

19th May 2026, 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Boost your confidence and sharpen your chaplaincy interview skills with expert tips and real‑world examples

Although selection processes often involve more than just a panel interview, an interview is still a critical part of the process. How you do at the interview will significantly impact your chances of being offered a job. Good interview preparation reduces the inevitable nerves and anxiety associated with interviews, meaning that you can present yourself in a confident, self-assured and articulate way. Drawing on their experience of interviewing, this interactive webinar will offer a range of tips and skills to help enhance your interview performance, including:

• Structuring answers well and using language that resonates with your audience.

• Developing good examples to answer scenario-based questions.

• Preparing insightful questions to ask yourself.

Register your place HERE. The ticket price is £20 for non-FCG members and free for FCG members. For the discount code, please contact Thandar here.

Emerging Funeral Practice and Implications for Ministry

Joint Liturgical Group of Great Britain, Tuesday, Apr 21, from 7:30 pm to 9 pm

Examining contemporary developments in funeral practice and their significance for Christian Ministry. Bringing together leading scholars and practitioners in the field of death, ritual and bereavement studies, this conference will provide both historical context and critical analysis of emerging trends. Click here for more information and register your place here.

A link to the conference will be sent by email approximately 24 hours before the scheduled start time. If you require further information, contact us at jlgevents@outlook.com

Signpost Services Announces Major Expansion Across the West Midlands

Signpost Services has expanded its nationwide support platform to include comprehensive coverage of services for prisoners and ex‑prisoners across the West Midlands. Chaplains and professionals working with individuals in or from the region can now access information on 500 local organisations offering support with housing, addiction, finances, health, faith communities, and a wide range of rehabilitation needs.

This development builds on Signpost’s existing coverage of London, Manchester, the North East, and Norfolk, strengthening its position as one of the most extensive directories of resettlement support in the country.

With this expansion, the Signpost database now includes 2,200 organisations, including more than 250 services operating nationwide across England and Wales. This enables chaplains and frontline workers to generate personalised “Your Signpost Services” reports for individuals being released into any part of the country.

Founder David Cooke highlighted the importance of maintaining accurate, up‑to‑date information:

“We are now using AI‑driven tools to ensure our data is refreshed regularly. This means chaplains and support workers can rely on Signpost to provide current, trustworthy information at all times.”

Signpost is inviting chaplains and practitioners with recommended service lists for the West Midlands to contribute to the growing directory. Submissions can be sent to contact@signpost.services.

For more information, visit www.signpost.services, where you can also access the one‑page overview Introduction to Signpost.

Contact: contact@signpost.services

‍ ‍

Chaplaincy Roadshow 2026

The Free Church Group partnered with the Chaplaincy's Road Show Tour, and we invited the organisers to give us a report.

Over a coffee, Warren Evans (CEO of Sports Chaplaincy UK) and I imagined how we could showcase Chaplaincy Ministry to the local church. We approached around 20 organisations, who quickly bought into the idea. The Roadshow aimed to inform, inspire and encourage greater involvement, and empower pastors and church members to capture a renewed vision for chaplaincy.

A further motivation to organise the Roadshows was the frequent requests we receive from Prisons. Hospitals, the military, and so on, are requesting more Chaplains. For me, it is somewhat strange and counterintuitive that Chaplaincy still holds currency in the UK. Why would a Premier League FC appoint a chaplain? A further indicator is the expansion of Colleges and Universities offering Chaplain-Training. Chaplaincy is in its ascendancy. How long will this door stay open?

Chaplaincy is increasingly recognised as a vital, post-secular ministry in the UK, shifting from a niche, institutional role (hospitals, military, prisons) to a public-facing, "incarnational" ministry in workplaces, shopping centres, leisure and sports venues. It is considered crucial because it meets people where they are—outside traditional church walls—offering spiritual care in an era characterised by both rapid secularisation and a persistent search for meaning. As traditional church attendance declines, chaplaincy serves as a "bridging" ministry, bringing a spiritual presence into communities. It operates as "the church without walls," where 95% of the people encountered do not regularly attend church.

Here are some results; 

• 200+ people attended the three roadshows

• The buzz and energy in the room were amazing

• Partner organisations were very positive, and new contacts were made!

• The national advertising alone underscored chaplaincy to the Church

• London and Birmingham have requested follow-up events!

• Cardiff and Newcastle have asked for a Roadshow

• When we showcase stories of encounter and community engagement, people are impacted and want to get involved

• We saw the power of partnership as different agencies and churches stood together

I lead my denomination’s Chaplaincy Dept; along with many networks and streams, we are convinced that Chaplaincy offers amazing opportunities to share Christ’s Love with those with little or no meaningful connection to a Christian community.

 A Very Modern Ministry: Chaplaincy in the UK – Ben Ryan (2015)

At a time when UK society seems increasingly dominated by secular habits and assumptions, and when religious attendance and affiliation seem to be in decline, there are more and more stories of chaplaincy spreading into new settings. No longer – if indeed it was ever the case – are chaplains limited to Anglican clergy in a few institutional settings. Today chaplains are everywhere.

Chaplaincy ministry has its roots in ancient history. Religious men and women often accompanied armies into battle as priests. Chaplains provided encouragement and compassionate care to people who were constantly in crisis. Chaplains sailed with Sir Francis Drake in the sixteenth century and fought with Washington during the Revolutionary War. They have prayed through human suffering, have been encouraged in despair, and have walked alongside humanity at every stage.

Today, chaplains are found in many (perhaps every) settings—healthcare, policing, business, industry, universities, and sport; in fact, placement is limited only by the lack of imagination.

The word chaplain originates in fourth-century France. A traditional story relates the compassion of St. Martin of Tours. One cold and wet night, he was so moved by compassion for a beggar that he shared his cloak. Upon his death, his cape (capella in Latin) was preserved as a holy relic and kept in a shrine that came to be known as chapele, from which the English word chapel is derived. The guardian of the chapel became known as the chaplain.

The phrase “an open door – an effectual open door” is taken from 1 Cor 16:9. The Apostle Paul is ministering in Ephesus. He says that in the face of all the challenges and opposition, there is an incredible ‘Open Door’ of effective mission that has opened to him. The metaphor is clear despite the hardships God has opened doors for effective engagement with society. We are convinced that chaplaincy is God’s gift, God’s open door to the UK Church. 

As with any promotional event, we look to the cumulative effect, and pray that in local settings, as pastors and chaplains tell their story at national, regional and local events and as chaplaincy is affirmed, we will see increasing numbers of pastors and church partners called into this vital ministry.

Like the ministry of Jesus, chaplaincy is about being present in specific, sometimes messy sectors of society to provide support. We call this incarnational presence. In summary, chaplaincy in the UK acts as a proactive, adaptable ministry that bridges the gap between faith and society, offering vital human connection to people and communities wherever they are.

We love and honour the pastors and the local church, most of us recognise the pull to ‘inhouse’ ministry, that is we end up giving our best hours and resources to our church-community. Conversely, chaplaincy intentionally focuses 95% of our time and effort outside the local church. Someone said, “Get out on the limb, that’s where the fruit is”.

Does your church community have an active involvement in chaplaincy ministry? We can help you get started.

For Information contact: -

Nigel Tween. Nigel.Tween@outlook.com  Director: Elim Chaplaincy Association.

Warren Evans. warren.evans@sportschaplaincy.org.uk  CEO: Sports Chaplaincy UK

Rootedness, Support, and Nourishment

Reflections on Chaplaincy by Caroline Stott, President, Congregational Federation

Caroline’s artistic skills were put to good use in this self-portrait

Foundations of Wise Chaplaincy

Essentials for wise chaplaincy—such as compassion, hope, and reverence for human dignity—require deep roots and ongoing nourishment. David Ford (CHCC conference 2016)

These qualities form the bedrock of chaplaincy, shaping the way we engage with those in our care and reminding us of the profound responsibility we hold.

Reflections on Chaplaincy Work

As you may already know, my ministry is as a healthcare chaplain at Royal Devon University Hospital. I feel it is important to share some reflections on chaplaincy, especially considering that many within the Federation serve as chaplains, often quietly and without much recognition. I have placed David Ford’s thought at the start of this piece because it prompts me to question whether we chaplains are as deeply rooted as we ought to be.

Chaplaincy Practice in Healthcare

Healthcare chaplains typically visit patients who have requested a visit or who have been referred by the ward or their church. In my role, I am the lead chaplain for learning difficulties and participate in a weekly multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting with the palliative care team. I am also involved in a project initiated at Royal Devon University Hospital, which aspires to become an academic paper in the future. This project involves trialling wellbeing visits for every patient who has been in hospital for over 21 days. As a result, patients who might never have asked to see a chaplain are discovering the benefits of such visits—finding support and attentive listening from a staff member not involved in their medical care.

Experiencing God’s Guidance

Wednesdays, though unpredictable, have become a time and place where I feel truly engaged in God’s work throughout the day. I dedicate the day to the Lord, asking Him to lead me to those who need my presence and to provide the words I should say. Each time I go to the hospital, I am amazed by how God works through me in these encounters.

Support and Challenges in Chaplaincy

I consider myself fortunate to work with a team of chaplains who are incredibly supportive. Understandably, some of the situations we are called to support can be both traumatic and tragic. Our office often serves as a space to unwind and leave the weight of the day behind.

In conversations with other chaplains in the Federation, I have come to realise how fortunate I am to have the backing of a supportive team. Others may not have this support or may find it difficult to share certain experiences in their workplaces.

Reflecting on Rootedness and Nourishment

I have been reflecting on the quote at the beginning of this article, considering my own rootedness. While I am firmly grounded within my team, I wonder whether I have that same depth of rootedness within a church family. Over the past year, much of my time has been spent travelling to different churches Preaching and leading Messy Church sessions. I have not had the opportunity to settle with a church family, to sit, listen, and worship, or to experience that continuous nourishment. I suspect that many of us, who spend most Sundays preaching and balancing chaplaincy with church responsibilities, may also struggle to find time for regular spiritual nourishment.

Building Connections Among Chaplains

Perhaps, as chaplains, we could consider meeting together in the coming year to connect and support one another. We might organise a time of worship and sharing—perhaps via Zoom or at the assembly. It would not require a significant commitment, but simply knowing who we are would enable us to provide mutual support.

Blessings to you all.

Rev Caroline Stott

My email is [revcstott@gmail.com], and I am on the phone on 07966 071514. Please contact me, tell me your story.

This article is republished from Refresh magazine of the Congregational Federation, approved by Rev. Caroline Stott.