Bury St Edmunds Chaplain celebrates 25 years of helping others

A Suffolk hospital chaplain has served people and communities for 25 years, often during the toughest hours of their lives.

Reverend Rufin Emmanuel celebrates the quarter century since his ordination.

He currently works for the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust; These include West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds and Newmarket Community Hospital, as well as community services across Suffolk.

Rev Emmauel has been with the Trust for a year after previously working at other hospitals in and around London and Essex.

“We can provide 24/7 support and we have good relationships with all faiths and denominations, as well as those who do not express faith – our colleagues and patients know that we are open to all,” he said.

“I thank God for the grace I have received to serve the people. My passion is to look after people, to serve them one-to-one and to offer them an open ear as well as pastoral and spiritual support.

“I am with them and by the side of people when they are in great need. As it says in the Gospels: ‘When I was sick you visited me’. ”

His latest posting is very different from where Rev Emmanuel started his career all those years ago.

He was ordained in July 1996 in Lahore, Pakistan, and served as assistant pastor in two different parishes before coming to England 20 years ago.

It came to West Suffolk at one of the most difficult times for the Trust; right at the beginning of the pandemic.

Pastor Emmanuel said it was “a remarkable journey” for his team during this time.

His team now consists of 10 people, including two full-time chaplains and a number of part-time volunteers.

Serving the community by faith runs in the reverend’s family.

His wife Timnat, with whom he has three children, is to be ordained a deacon on September 11 this year and a priest in June 2022.

Looking ahead to the next quarter of a century, Rev Emmanuel’s priority is to help the Trust’s patients and staff, as well as the local community, recover from the pandemic and the challenges this winter may bring.

He also wants to develop pastoral care and its multi-religious team as plans for a new hospital in Bury St. Edmunds take shape.

“This is an exciting and challenging time and we are involved in early discussions about what the chapel might look like in the new hospital,” he said.

“There are wonderful people around me – the Bible says that doing good work never tires you.

“I believe that people come to us because they see our good work and we make sure that we are visible and available to everyone.”

Pastor Emmanuel’s service has been praised by local religious leaders.

Rt Revd Martin Seeley, Bishop of St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich said: “Congratulations on the 25th anniversary of your ordination. Through your priesthood, you have been a source of comfort and inspiration to many and no doubt a conduit of God’s healing balm and grace.

“We appreciate your gifts and abilities in the Diocese of St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich. May God continue to bless you richly as you draw closer and closer to his path. ”

St. Edmundsbury Cathedral Dean Joe Hawes said: “The clergy and people of St. Edmundsbury Cathedral celebrate the silver jubilee of his ordination with Rev. Rufin Emmanuel.

“We send him our warmest good wishes and prayers in the hope and expectation that his ministry will continue to be a blessing to the Church and the world.

“We appreciate our deepened connections with West Suffolk Hospital and are committed to continuing to support the pastoral ministry.”

Do you know anyone who is a community hero? Please contact us at community.heroes@archant.co.uk.