Our Chaplaincy Team sits within our Family Support Care Pathway here at the Hospice. Our team is able to help patients, guests and families with their spiritual, religious and pastoral needs.
Meet the Team
The Reverend Stephen Martin – Volunteer Chaplain
“I am a Priest in the Church of England, Diocese of Durham and have been volunteering at the Hospice since November 2022. I am a curate of my Parish which includes Lanchester, Burnhope, Annfield Plain and Leadgate and I am able to volunteer my time at both St Cuthbert’s Hospice and Willowburn Hospice in Lanchester.
The sense of community here and the atmosphere amongst the staff is fantastic. They all get on so well and look after each other.
On a Friday, which is the day I visit St Cuthbert’s, I try to attend the morning handover for the In-Patient Unit and Living Well Centre to find out what has been going on. I’ll then visit the rooms on the In-Patient Unit to see if anyone would like to chat. I wear a clerical collar so most people may see me and identify me as a Chaplaincy volunteer straight away. This can be different for Jess, as she does not wear a clerical collar.
My role is to build relationships. Sometimes when I chat to people there is no mention of God or faith. It’s about meeting people where they are at and taking people as you find them.
Perhaps a family just needs a bit of space to vent for a little while and that’s fine, that’s part of my role – to be a listening ear when someone needs it. I know that in my role I can give that bit of time to patients and families, which can really make a difference.
It’s really life-affirming for me to be able to support people at the Hospice.
I hope to remain a Chaplaincy volunteer at the Hospice for as long as I am able to!”
St Cuthbert’s Hospice offer Chaplaincy support for our Living Well Centre and In-Patient Unit. For more information, you can email chaplain@stcuthbertshospice.com or call 0191 386 1170.