Chaplaincy Conference 2022

During the Michalemas half-term, Brentwood Preparatory School hosted its second Chaplaincy Conference and Brentwood School Chaplain Revd Adrian McConnaughie, reflects on a very successful event:

The Conference, entitled ‘Sharing Our Stories’ sought to provide an important moment for Chaplains, both full-time and part-time, to gather and take time to reflect on how they have sought to offer much needed pastoral support especially during the pandemic. The conference included three challenging and thought-provoking keynote speakers.

Ian Adams, priest, poet and Chaplain at Ridley Hall Theological College in Cambridge, provided three reflective moments during the day where he invited those gathered to consider how the metaphors of ‘Cave’, Refectory’ and ‘Road’ could help to encourage and strengthen us in this ministry to which we are called. Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani, the Bishop of Chelmsford, spoke of her vision for Chaplaincy within this Diocese and shared a little too of her own journey. The Revd Dr Fiona Stewart-Darling, Lead Chaplain at Canary Wharf in London, provided us with a very interesting insight into the challenges and the joys of her work in a very multicultural and multi-faith setting at the heart of London business.

The keynote addresses were supported with a broad range of workshops throughout the day where we had an opportunity to learn more of the work of NHS chaplains and chaplains working in the agricultural setting. The workshop sessions also gave us time to consider the important work of the National Institute of Christian Education and their work, in particular, which seeks to explore the specific needs of many of our young people as they adjust to school life after a two-year period of disruption.