Weston Hospicecare’s chaplain Karen Murphy has praised a volunteer who has been appointed curate for St Andrews Church in Burnham-on-Sea after a ceremony in Wells.
Margaret Hayward volunteers, as part of her training to become an Anglican priest, for Weston Hospicecare’s chaplaincy team and gives support to day patients and inpatients at the charity’s base at Jackson-Barstow House.
Karen says Margaret is a tremendous asset to the hospice and is pleased to see her service being recognised.
She said: “I’ve been chaplain here for 14 years and Margaret joined the chaplaincy team about three years ago.
“It’s been great to support Margaret through her training and then to be part of her ordination day recently.
“Most people serve their curacy as part of a church community but Margaret’s heart is really for chaplaincy and so, unusually, she has been allowed to use her role here as part of her training.
“She currently supports day hospice patients and the inpatients for spiritual care but I hope she will be able to do some community chaplaincy for the hospice as well as developing her interest and skills in working with dementia patients.
“Margaret has great skills for the role and brings so much compassion and warmth into her encounters with patients. It’s a joy and privilege to have her as part of our team.”
Weston Hospicecare’s chaplaincy services form part of family support team which is essential to the spiritual and emotional wellbeing of patients and their families as they endure the toughest days of their lives together.