Annual report of Graylingwell Hospital : 63rd, 1960.

  • Graylingwell Hospital (Chichester, England)
Date:
1960
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Annual report of Graylingwell Hospital : 63rd, 1960. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    50/60 (page 48)
    THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND CHAPLAIN S REPORT. August, 1960. Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, In my seventh year as Chaplain, I am once again honoured to present my annual report to the Management Committee. I should like to begin, by saying that recentiy, “out of the blue” I had a letter from a man who earlier this year was a patient here. In it he said : “As one who has received treatment at Graylingwell Hospital, I should very much like to have an opportunity for bearing witness to help I have received. It would be to me an act of gratitude.” This man happens to be an ordained minister of the Church of England, and although his visit to preach in our Chapel did not exactly coincide with Mental Health Week (July 9-16) one feels that his testimony, entirely unsolicited, is appropriate in this Report. I should add that his talk was much to the point, concerning cases helped by our Lord as recorded in the Gospel according to St. Mark—some of them much the concern of their friends, and others quite the reverse. It is of significance too, that during this Mental Health Year, the Bishop of the Diocese, Dr. R. Wilson, has recently appointed a senior priest to act as liaison between the diocese and the Church’s Council of Healing. I have been in touch with this representative at his request. There is interest in such questions as effective schemes for closer and more intelligent co-operation between local churches and our mental hospitals, as well as the training of clergy in pastoral psychology and mental health work. It has been my great regret that during past months, for some considerable period, my limited activities were curtailed by the need for rest and treatment of a very troublesome foot. This, through treatment at St. Richard’s Hospital, I am glad to say has largely been put right, and I have been happy to resume more normal duties. These in the main entail the regular Sunday services morning and evening in chapel; meeting patients ; being available for interviews, and conducting certain regular ministrations. Special services have included the usual Carol Service at Christmas; the Easter Festival; Harvest Thanksgiving, and the Remembrance Day Service. In addition we have been very