New film features the ministry of prison chaplains

Prisons Week 15 - 21 November

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The Diocese of Manchester launches a short film featuring the work of prison chaplains for Prisons Week (15-21 November 2015).

With teams of chaplains working in three prisons in the diocese, HMP Manchester, Forest Bank in Salford and Buckley Hall in Rochdale, the film showcases their ministry to prisoners, their families and prison staff.

In the film is the Revd Henry Martin, who heads a large team of chaplains at HMP Manchester that includes Christian ministers, Sikhs, Imams, Rabbis, a Hindu minister and a Buddhist chaplain. He explains, “We see every new prisoner within 24 hours. Often we are the first person they will see”.

Chaplains are there for everybody in the prison - staff as well as prisoners. “In the chapel we hold services including communion. Chapel gives people time to reflect and we give them the good news of forgiveness, hopefully not in a pat, easy way, but in a way that helps people to face up to their God and to his love, but also to their own circumstances and choices.”

Revd Jo Calladine, Anglican chaplain, adds “It says in John’s gospel ‘God’s light shines in the darkness and the darkness never defeats it’. Wherever there is darkness and difficulty I think it’s all the more important that God’s light is there to remind people that the darkness isn’t absolute and that there is always light and hope and the promise of new life.”

The Bishop of Bolton, Chris Edmondson, who has oversight for prison chaplains in Manchester Diocese, asks parishioners to pray for the work of prison chaplains, as well as for victims of crime, prisoners, their families, and prison staff and to consider practical ways of helping.