Chaplains are an integral part of life across our diocese, working in hospitals, prisons, educational establishments and more.
One such chaplain is Revd Canon Catherine Binns over at Royal Bolton Hospital. Catherine provides patients and staff with pastoral and religious support, something which has become more essential than ever since the hardships of Covid.
People of faith and no faith share with her whatever it is they are going through in their lives, with her background as a neonatal nurse giving Catherine an innate understanding of the challenges faced by hospital staff. “We’re there in the highs and lows of life alongside people”, says Catherine, “we’re experiencing what they are.”
This essential work is aided by the chaplaincy office, and one very special companion: Catherine’s dog, Tandal.
Tandal is a rescued Romanian street dog, who in addition to being Catherine’s beloved pet also serves hundreds of staff as a therapy dog.
A cross-breed Border Collie with a calm nature, Tandal’s demeanour comes in spite of his turbulent journey prior to Catherine’s ownership. After being rescued and brought over from Romania, Tandal had several new homes and was passed on due to circumstances each time. He eventually wound up at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary, where Catherine and her husband Alan found him and gave him his new forever home in April last year.
Despite the tribulations of Tandal’s beginnings, his friendly and placid character has seen him become an adored member of the Royal Bolton Chaplaincy team, proudly sporting his ‘Staff Support Chaplain’ neckerchief as he carries out his work.
Such are the positive effects of Tandal’s presence that a staff survey found an improvement in staff mental health correlated with his arrival on the wards, with interactions like ‘Woof Wednesdays’ providing drop-ins, well-being sessions, and the opportunity for staff to simply come and play with him.
In addition to giving staff a moment of reprieve from their demanding roles, Tandal offers a safe space where they often end up speaking to him about whatever it is they’re going through.
News of Tandal’s services has spread, and as a result, he has now reached over 300 staff across the hospital and community clinics. People are delighted to meet him, beaming when they encounter him and ringing up the chaplaincy office to arrange sessions with him. "Staff just de-stress – I get asked on a daily basis when can we see Tandal. His favourite place is switchboard where he gets lots of treats and attention!”
Alongside the work of Catherine, Tandal, and the chaplaincy office, Royal Bolton Hospital also has some brand-new on-site faith facilities open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for staff and patients to pray, reflect, and have a moment away from the bustle of the hospital.
To find out more about our chaplains and their work, visit our Chaplaincy page.