20th anniversary of church at Musgrave Park Hospital

Wednesday November 8th 2017

The Rev Canon Robert Jones who represented the Bishop of Connor, and Mrs Sanna Mallon, Chaplain of The RVH and Musgrave Park Hospital, at the 20th anniversary service in the Church at Musgrave Park.

The 20th anniversary of the consecration and dedication of the church in Musgrave Park Hospital in South Belfast was marked with a special celebration.

Musgrave Park Hospital is a non-acute hospital delivering a range of regional specialist healthcare services which has a reputation for excellence as well as education and research.

Included on the Musgrave Park Hospital site are a range of specialist orthopaedics and rehabilitation services available to people from all over Northern Ireland.

On Tuesday June 17 1997, the new church in Musgrave Park Hospital was consecrated and dedicated and on the 20th anniversary of the event, a large congregation met for worship in a spirit of thankful celebration.

This is a place of quiet away from the busyness and stresses of the modern healthcare environment. Patients, families and staff stop here a while and ask Almighty God to hear their prayers.

It is also a base for regular worship, led by the chaplaincy team on a Sunday and the special times for the hospital community to gather together. The Saint Ignatius Elias Syrian Orthodox, the Belfast Trust Here4U choir and Muslim members of staff are also regular worshippers here.

The theme of the anniversary service was the continuing ministry of care and compassion of the chaplaincy team, making special mention of the contribution of volunteer pastoral visitors and Sunday ‘wheelers’.

Those present included senior members of Trust management, Malone College choir, patients, staff and representatives of the four main churches. The service was followed by refreshments and chat.

Report by Hospital Chaplain Sanna Mallon.