Father Edward Lewis

Voice of hope for sick and dying

Church of England priests perform many roles across the country - as Father Edward Lewis can testify from first hand experience, having served in his 24 ordained years as curate, hospital chaplain and rural dean.

These days he is Chief Executive of the Hospital Chaplaincies Council of the Church of England at Church House in London, and as Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen, is one of 36 preaching in rotation at the Chapels Royal at St James's Palace - a prestigious, yet humbling, honour.

“It’s an amazing honour for chaplaincy as well,” he says, “because it’s recognising the work of all of our hospital chaplains across the country.”

Hospital chaplaincy has moved Edward the most, as he has seen how words of comfort and strength mean so much to people.

“When you go to hospital whatever the circumstances,” he says, “whether you’re just going for an outpatient appointment for in ingrowing toenail or for major surgery, it’s a different world, and we’re vulnerable, and we get anxious.”

Chaplains are also ministering the Sacrament of the Church, praying through prayer-card requests, spending time with relatives of the sick and dying, and a whole miscellany of vital roles - which is why Father Lewis is constantly making sure NHS Trusts with a tight budget are “aware of the importance of the work chaplaincy contributes to the holistic work that is done in a hospital”.

Not surprisingly, the key to coping with such emotionally intensive work, he says, lies in remaining close to God: “Unless we’re rooted and grounded in prayer and we’re taking everything back to the Lord in prayer and we’re joining in the prayer of the church - at the Morning Prayer, at Evening prayer, we’re at the Eucharist often, we’re having retreats and spiritual direction - and all these things which are so much part of the priestly life. If we’re doing all of that then we are getting sustained.”

As for Father Lewis’s ongoing spiritually journey, the path forward is defined by a few very reassuring words: “Here we are for this moment in time, work to do, and the future is in the Lord’s hands.”

You can hear this interview now by clicking here