Revd James McWhirter RN licensed as Chaplain at DMRC

On Thursday 23 June, Revd James McWhirter RN was licensed as Chaplain at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre by Bishop Andy.

Revd James is the first full-time chaplain at the DMRC Stanford Hall, which is on the border between Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire. The state-of-the-art Ministry of Defence clinical rehabilitation facility provides expert care to Armed Forces personnel.

For 11 years, Revd James was a full-time Army chaplain, then he became a Reservist chaplain in the Royal Navy. He works with both staff and patients in a caring and dynamic organisation.

Revd James said, “I feel very lucky to be working here. It’s a great privilege to care for people spiritually and pastorally. In the Armed Forces, the chaplain has a very important role so there’s already a strong connection there.

The establishment of a full-time chaplain acknowledges the spiritual dimension of recovery and the importance of faith and belief in a transforming society. A modern chaplain engages with that.”