Welcome to HMP Lowdham Grange

Chaplaincy

HMP Lowdham Grange is a diverse community of staff and prisoners; including persons from many different faiths and persons of no faith. We are committed to non-discriminatory practice through which prisoners are facilitated in the expression of their beliefs through the recognised faiths.

Chaplaincy at HMP Lowdham Grange exists to provide Religious Services to prisoners as well as to advise and support the Prison Director in providing rehabilitation programs and a safe and decent environment for all who live and work here.

The provision of Chaplaincy Services is managed by the Chaplaincy Manager, delivered by a multi-faith Chaplaincy team and supported by volunteers from the community.

Work with Prisoners

• Support contact with family.
• Help them mend damaged relationships.
• Encourage sense of worth and human dignity
• Be with them especially through difficult experiences.
• Provide stimulating character building and educational experiences.
• Offer hope and help for a better future.
• Give information about aspects of their own faith.

Support for Staff

• Maintaining their humanity.

Support and Advocacy

• Briefs on and planning for Religious Festivals.
• Advice on decency in searches.
• Religious Artefacts.
• Parole Reports, Marriage Coordination, Bereavement Ceremonials.
• Contact with Faith and other Groups in the Community.

A Prisoner's view of the Chaplaincy at Lowdham Grange

Even with 690 prisoners around, prison can be a lonely place; a loud, regimented and sometimes depressing place. The Chaplaincy is an oasis in a storm. For those with faith it is a place to meet with God and like-minded souls. For those without faith, or those just seeking, it is somewhere to find warmth, love, friendship, companionship, or just escape.

On a personal level I don't know if I could have coped with prison without the Chaplaincy. On those "down" days I have been picked up and put back on my feet; on the "up" times I have found a safe place to share good news. I think that it is a good word to describe the Chaplaincy - "safe". Always a welcome; never an admonition - a place where it is ok to laugh or cry.

Surely one of the most important parts of any prison's mission is to try to rehabilitate. I have seen lives turned around by people of faith - hard, violent men turned into loving, caring individuals. I have heard testimonies of people from abused, deprived backgrounds talk about the joy of finding love and acceptance for perhaps the first time in their lives. This has to be a good thing.

Practically, Chaplaincy does the day to day things too. They are always there to talk to in trust and confidence - something not easy in prison. And for those who want to develop faith, there is teaching - religious studies, meditation classes, theology courses, bereavement counselling classes, choir and drama practices etc etc. For those who want to get involved, the opportunities are huge.

And after prison too, Chaplaincy helps set people up in loving Church fellowships to continue the good work started here.

At Lowdham Grange we are greatly blessed with a wonderful Chaplaincy team and a terrific band of volunteers from outside - thank you guys; without you prison would be so much harder.