ABSTRACT
The practice of assigning clergy to work in hospitals has been a part of life in England for a thousand years. Yet chaplains have been the subject of relatively little historical study, perhaps reflecting the fact that histories are most often written by those whose influence is in the ascendant. An absent history may be a contributory factor in the crisis of contemporary chaplaincy, emphasizing the lack of a clear sense of identity and forward momentum. In this chapter, the history of the chaplain’s presence in hospitals will be explored in moments of crisis and critical change. Through this approach, it will be possible to identify the shifting expectations that have surrounded the chaplain as well as the ways in which chaplains have regarded themselves at times of re-definition. It is a necessary and illuminating piece of work in relation to the subsequent examination of the current challenges facing chaplaincy.
