Beliefs
Key Issues
Eating, Food and Drink
Death and Dying
Baptist, Church of Christ, Church of Scotland, Church of the Nazarene, Free Church of England, Lutheran, Methodist, Moravian Brethren, Pentecostal, Plymouth Brethren, Presbyterian, Salvation Army, United Reformed
- There are many different Christian churches with differing structures, beliefs and rituals but the concept of one God who reveals Himself as a Father, a Son and a Holy Spirit (the Trinity) is central to all Christian teaching.
- The sacred writings of Christian religion are in the Bible.
- A Christian’s individual faith and religious practice will be influenced by the tradition of the church to which they belong, as well as their own personal relationship with God.
- Easter and Christmas are important Feast Days.
- Free Churches do not conform to the Anglican or Catholic traditions.
- Patients may wish to see a Chaplain before an operation and to receive Holy Communion.
- They may request a Bible or wish to attend services in the Chapel.
- Holy Communion may take place on the wards or in the hospital Chapel.
- If a patient is in any kind of spiritual distress, the Chaplain may be called to offer comfort.
- There are no general dietary requirements.
- Prayers may be said at the bedside of the dying and sometimes it will be appropriate for the patient to be anointed. The close family must be asked.
- After death, the family may wish to gather around the bed to give prayers of thanksgiving for the person’s life.
- Always ask the patient/significant others if they would like to see the Chaplain or wish their local Minister to visit.
- Routine last offices are appropriate.
- There are no religious objections to blood transfusions, organ donations or transplants.
- There are no religious objections to Post Mortems.