Saturday 3rd June - Final Day - Friends Reunited!

Chaplain David began our final day in the chapel of Northwick Park in Harrow. He read Psalm 146 which speaks words of praise for our Creator but also speaks of His compassion for those on the margins of society – the very people we were meeting day by day as we walked – the immigrant, the homeless, recently bereaved and children. He gave a meaningful reflection about compassion. He reminded us that, though it was true that the NHS needs money, its deepest need was to have people of compassion. to minister healing. He told us this had been identified by the NHS itself, but of course their researchers found it difficult to measure or to quantify statistically. We felt compassion for David himself, currently a lone chaplain in a huge hospital whilst the place of chaplaincy in that trust is being debated. It was a privilege to be able to minster to him before we left for the final leg of the walk.

They say ‘small is beautiful’ which is just as well because it was the same 6 who set out again, but what joy to become 8 when we met up with Ellie and John (Becky’s other children) after stopping tp pray at the Wembley Health Centre. Poignantly this place too had once been a local general hospital reminding us of the huge changes which have transformed the NHS over the past 20 years. We popped in to use the facilities and thank them, but the response from the gentleman on the reception desk was a curt “no comment”, referring of course to the purdah regulations surrounding a general election.

‘He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul’ was as true for us on this final day as it had been throughout the walk, as we followed our now familiar friend; the Grand Union Canal; into London. Delighting in swans and geese with their gorgeous young families, shady trees and clear waters, we also enjoyed conversations with cyclists, boaters and immigrants sunbathing on its banks.

The nearer we got to London the busier it all became and the more we were ignored. So much so, that we completely missed Bishop Pete waiting for us on the over bridge at Little Venice and he didn’t see us either. Helpfully reunited with the Bishop by some folk he had stopped to chat with on the towpath, we arrived at St Mary’s Paddington to a joyful and heart touching welcome from the coach party from Stafford. There were tears and cheers as prayers were untied with walkers.

Together we made our way to the upstairs chapel where we worshipped the Lord and gave thanks for all His love. And of course we prayed for that great London Hospital, overwhelming in its remit. . Bishop Pete spoke of the need to give thanks when reflecting on the healing of the ten lepers, reminding us not to take the NHS for granted but to be truly thankful for it. How lovely to hear Matt play the piano during our time of ministry and anointing. Then a welcome but hurried lunch in the chapel, hosted by Lead Chaplain, Rosie Andrious.

 

So it was that, attired in their NHS tabards, with greatly increased numbers, we set off across the royal parks for Westminster. There is nothing quite like a sunny day in London to bring out the crowds, so there was no shortage of onlookers and the occasional question! We gathered under Big Ben to start our final silent walk of prayer as we crossed the bridge to St Thomas Hospital on the South Bank.

Worship in the chapel there with Chaplain Mia and her colleagues blessed our hearts. We were able to minister again to staff and to two long term patients, as well as to one of our Stafford candidates as he enters these final few days before the General Election.

Mia told us something of the history of the great London hospitals. We were reminded again of the incredible Christian heritage of healing and hospitality in this country, which began centuries ago and is carried on today under the banner of the NHS. Thanks be to God from whom all blessings flow and in ~whom we live and move and have our being.

We left the chapel, but our prayer cross; bearing the prayer ribbons of every hospital we visited; remains there… in the closest hospital to the seat of political power in this land; the Houses of Parliament. It’s message is simple; there is a higher power to whom we can appeal, whose plans for us are for good and not for evil, a plan to bring hope to the future of healthcare in our land.

Poignantly, as I publish this final post on our blog (although photos will follow) we are all reeling with the news of another tourist attack in central London and Mia, alongside her chaplaincy team and hundreds of NHS staff, will have been up all-night ministering to wounded and comforting the bereaved. Let us all uphold them in our prayers.

                                                                                               Home safe!