Wanted: pagan chaplains for Britain’s prisons

Seven pagan chaplains are being sought to minister to inmates at prisons around the country. The vacancies, listed on the civil service jobs website, come with a pro rata salary of up to £29,176. While the six most popular faiths (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Judaism) account for most people in prison, there has been a steady increase in the number of prisoners who identify as pagan and to whose specific spiritual needs these vacancies will cater.

It is easy to overlook the importance of a chaplain, but prison can be notoriously isolating – and not only in the physical sense. Prisoners often become estranged from their families and see their relationships break down.

“Prisoners go through all kinds of emotions,” says the Rev Michael Binstock, a Jewish faith adviser to the prison service. “There are those who self-harm, there are those who are suicidal. I got a letter from a prisoner who I visited for a number of years. When he was released, he wrote to say that he regularly thought about taking his own life and that, if it wasn’t for my visits, he would have attempted it. Most chaplains have those stories.”

Each inmate is allowed an hour a week with a chaplain, whether they are religious or not. “They are going through some terrible emotions; sadly, their crimes often lead to the breakdown of every significant relationship in their life.” As well as offering spiritual guidance, Binstock says a chaplain might help a prisoner in practical ways. “One gentleman I visited had no family or friends who could bring his hearing aid, so I went and got it for him.”

For prisoners who observe pagan religions – such as Wicca, Druidry and Odinism – communing with nature and taking part in outdoor rituals are often an important part of their spiritual life, something that is problematic in a prison setting. The pagan chaplains will be required to lead open rituals and officiate rites of passage. As with all chaplains, they will also be expected to offer support to inmates of other faiths.

“You cannot overestimate how much of a test on the psyche and the soul prison can be,” says Binstock. “When we talk about crime, we often talk about the victims. But prisoners and their families are victims, too. All chaplains are trained to know that a warm handshake and a kind word can offer a huge degree of hope.”

In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Hotlines in other countries can be found here.