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.

Easter Message from the FCG Moderator

To the Free Churches Community,

Resurrection greetings to you in the name of God — Creator, Christ, and Comforter — Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (John 20:21 NIV).

Easter dawns as God’s decisive act of new creation. Before fear can organise itself, before grief can settle into permanence, before the powers of death can declare victory, God calls life out of the tomb and opens a future that had been sealed shut.

Mary Magdalene meets the risen Christ in a garden — a deliberate echo of the first garden, the place where human vocation began. Resurrection is the renewal of creation itself, and not simply the reversal of death. The risen Christ stands as the gardener of a remade world, cultivating life where loss seemed to have the final word.

The marks of crucifixion remain visible, as signs of costly love that endures rather than of defeat. In God, wounded bodies are honoured, remembered, and transformed into testimony. What human cruelty attempted to silence becomes a proclamation.

“Peace be with you”. When the risen Christ speaks peace, it is of a peace rooted in history — a peace that restores relationship, heals memory, and gathers scattered people into community. It steadies hearts, reorders priorities, and makes courage possible again.

Then Christ breathes. The breath of God that animated the first human being moves once more through fragile lives. This is creative, sustaining, empowering breath — the Spirit who kindles imagination, strengthens resolve, and calls communities into being. Resurrection is therefore the birth of a Spirit-filled people entrusted with God’s future.

“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you”. Easter immediately becomes mission. Those who encounter the risen Christ are drawn into the work of repair — mending what has been torn, restoring what has been diminished, building communities shaped by justice, mercy, and faithful love. Resurrection faith wholeheartedly rejects passivity. It moves outward, seeking the flourishing of all.

In our world, where many experience uncertainty, displacement, and profound strain, Easter proclaims that life can still emerge in unexpected places. Seeds take root underground long before they break the surface. Communities rediscover strength even after seasons of exhaustion. Hope often begins quietly, gathering momentum before it becomes visible.

As Free Churches, shaped by traditions of conscience, courage, and commitment to the common good, we are called to embody this resurrection life in public as well as personal ways. Our witness matters. Our service matters. Our refusal to surrender compassion matters. Wherever we stand alongside those whose dignity is threatened, wherever we work for reconciliation, wherever we nurture belonging, signs of resurrection appear.

Friends, Easter assures us that God’s future is already unfolding among us. The risen Christ meets people on ordinary roads, in familiar places, within communities that are still learning how to hope again. Resurrection is not distant from daily life, it is woven into it, energising faithful action and sustaining courageous love.

So we live as resurrection people who recognise possibility where others see closure, who cultivate peace amid turbulence, who trust that God continues to call life forth from every place that feels unfruitful.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Christ is risen, and with Christ the world is invited into renewal.

Christ is risen, and with Christ communities can be rebuilt.

Christ is risen, and with Christ hope becomes a living force.

May the joy of Easter strengthen us.

May the breath of the Spirit renew us.

May the peace of the risen Christ flow through us into the life of the world.

And may we recognise, even now, the signs of God’s new Creation unfolding around us.

With every blessing this Easter,

Revd Dr Tessa Henry-Robinson

Moderator, Free Churches Group

The Investing Together Values

VALUE: Intentionally include the gifts and contributions of children and young people as equal partners and participants in God’s Kingdom, investing time and resources to reflect this.

ENGAGE: Adjust infrastructures and systems to enable the voice and participation of children and young people to be genuinely equipped in the local and national church, ensuring opportunities for them to shape how we join in God’s mission.

COLLABORATE: Work together across perceived divides, creating inter-cultural, inter-generational and ecumenical connections so that children and young people truly feel part of God’s wider church. We want to see everyone playing a part in God’s mission to those around us.

The invitation to invest together was launched on 23rd March, and you can find the video of the launch here .

A website is being developed, but an introductory document can be found HERE.

We very much hope that member churches will:

a. Add your name to this invitation to the church, so that we can collectively ask them to more intentionally move towards these values.

b. Share any stories to inspire or other resources, so that we can add them to the webpage once it’s ready.

c. Get in touch with any queries or suggestions.

If you’d like to know more, please contact Sarah Lane Cawte: sarah.lane.cawte@ freechurches.org.uk

Or Sarah Holmes: sarah.holmes@cym.ac.uk

Exploring Chaplaincy in the Armed Forces

Revd Martin Spain

Healthcare chaplains possess skills and experience that are highly valued within the armed forces.

Could this be an opportunity for you?

Read insights from a serving military chaplain to learn more about this unique ministry context.

Serving in Two Worlds: Chaplaincy in the NHS and 203 (Welsh) Multi‑Role Medical Regiment

My ministry as an NHS chaplain in Wales places me alongside patients, families, and staff at moments of profound vulnerability and resilience. It is a ministry of presence — listening, supporting, and helping people navigate fear, hope, loss, and meaning.

That same calling extends into my role as chaplain to 203 (Welsh) Multi Role Medical Regiment, formerly known as the Field Hospital, where I support reservists who balance demanding civilian healthcare roles with the responsibilities of military service. Whether on training weekends, annual exercises, or during periods of operational readiness, chaplains accompany personnel through the pressures, camaraderie, ethical complexity, and deep sense of purpose that shape military life.

For healthcare chaplains, military chaplaincy — especially within medical regiments — can feel like a natural extension of the work you already do. Your understanding of clinical environments, pastoral nuance, and the emotional landscape of healthcare teams is deeply valued in the Armed Forces. But the invitation is broader: chaplains are needed across the Royal Navy, Army, and Royal Air Force, offering spiritual care, moral guidance, and a steady presence to service personnel and their families.

Becoming a reservist chaplain requires a minimum commitment of 27 days a year, including a continuous period at an annual training exercise. Many NHS organisations actively support their staff who serve as reservists, recognising the leadership, resilience, and pastoral skills they bring back into the health service. Those interested can explore more at the Free Churches Group chaplaincy hub page.

Revd Martin Spain is the Ecumenical Officer for the United Reformed Church in Wales, a hospital chaplain at Withybush General Hospital and has served as the ‘Padre’ to the Welsh MMR for over 16 years.

A chance to join the CoNNECT II online, 12th March 2026

CoNNECT II

Exploring Story: Chaplaincy - Reflection - Research

12th March 2026 · 10:30am - 4:30pm, Lumen United Reformed Church & Community Centre URC, 88 Tavistock Place London WC1H 9RS

Join us for an inspiring opportunity to connect and network, focusing on the power of case studies. Building on the success of the first CoNNECT day, we invite practitioners, educators, researchers, and all those dedicated to advancing chaplaincy and pastoral care in diverse settings. This day is designed for anyone eager to deepen their understanding of chaplaincy, enhance practices across various contexts, and empower chaplains through collaborative research. Visit here for more information and registration.  

A chance to join the CoNNECT II online

In addition to the general admission tickets, we have now set up an online-only ticket at £6. You can visit here for more information and registration.