27 October 2009

The Tamworth Hospital Chapel and its little congregation will celebrate its 30th birthday on Sunday (1 November).

The chapel has been an integral part of the holistic care offered to patients at the hospital and a place of solace for many patients, their families and carers.

Tamworth Hospital Chaplain Rev Chuck Shave said a history compiled about the chapel revealed many staff and community members believed the chapel would be a valuable addition to the hospital.

“Prior to building the chapel in 1979, the hospital would hold Christmas and Easter church services in any open space they could find, like wards, verandas and waiting rooms,” Rev Shave said. “They decided it was time to build the hospital’s own chapel.”

“Support came out of the woodwork for the idea, from the then Chair of the Board of Management Gordon Bruderlin MBE right down to the volunteers, everyone pitched in.

“Even nursing and ancillary staff agreed to allow funds to be deducted from their pay packets to go towards fundraising for the chapel.

“By the time the plans and cost estimates were approved the community had already raised $15,950 for the $30,000 project.”
 
Since then the chapel has come a long way. In recent years, the Chapel has embraced technology to improve patient access to church services.

“We now use our own internal television station to broadcast our services live to every bed-side in the hospital, which any patient can access free,” Rev Shave said.

“It’s great to know that such a simple idea can help those on the wards.

“From time to time we will have people thank us, saying ‘That was great, I just needed to hear that today’.”

The chapel has a strong congregation and 30 dedicated volunteers who provide pastoral support to Tamworth Hospital patients, their families and carers.

The Tamworth Hospital Chapel’s congregation held a special Sunday service on 1 November at 3pm to celebrate 30 years since the facility was opened.

Contact: Emma Gibbs

Phone: (02) 6767 7137 or 0428 114 767