News from our Voluntary & Part-Time Chaplains 

 

Mrs Maggie Paddison-Chapman

Canterbury Cathedral Lay Chaplain

Walking in the Footsteps of Pilgrims - Reflections from a Cathedral Chaplain
If you had told me as a child - often taken to Canterbury Cathedral - that one day I would be standing in the pulpit, leading hourly prayers, caring for pilgrims, and praying with staff and visitors, I would have run in the opposite direction. I have always loved the Cathedral. It is a beautiful place: the awe-inspiring vision of its architects, the skill of the masons who built it, and the beauty of the stained glass, including the work of the other craftsman. For hundreds of years it has stood as a landmark, visible from miles around.
Yet it is not the building itself that gives me the deepest sense of awe and wonder. It is the knowledge that I am walking in the footsteps of countless pilgrims who have come here as part of their journey of faith, seeking to draw closer to God. In my role today, I do the same - and I have the privilege of helping others to do so too.

My duties as a chaplain are varied. I lead hourly prayers and the 11am service of daily remembrance, known as ‘The Bell Service’. I talk with visitors, pray with those who ask, and answer questions about the Cathedral when I can, drawing on my growing but still limited knowledge.

The Cathedral is also supported by a team of knowledgeable guides who work to ensure that visitors are warmly welcomed and introduced to its history and stories, many of which are deeply rooted in the Christian faith. This creates countless opportunities for conversation - moments to share faith, encourage reflection, and support people on their own journeys, whether they are continuing, questioning, or just beginning.

Leading the hourly prayers offers everyone in the Cathedral - staff, volunteers, and visitors alike - a moment of stillness with God. Often, these quiet moments prompt people to stay behind afterwards to talk or to ask for prayer.

The 11am ‘Bell Service’ is a daily act of remembrance. It offers space for those present to remember and pray for all who have been lost or affected by war, both in the past and in the conflicts of today. This service often leads to meaningful conversations afterwards, particularly with veterans who are part of the ceremony. These moments of listening and shared reflection are a profound part of my ministry.

Welcoming pilgrims is an important part of my ministry too. Some arrive with deep faith, others with questions or none at all, yet I'm continually amazed at how God speaks through pilgrimage, even when people are not aware of it. Sometimes I can gently point this out and other times I simply allow space for reflection.

Many people will have seen reports of Dame Sarah Mullally’s pilgrimage from London to Canterbury, undertaken in preparation for her installation as the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury and the first woman to hold this role. It’s not the historic nature of the moment, but her decision to prepare by walking a pilgrimage. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of slowing down, listening, praying, and making intentional room for God.

Each day I begin my chaplaincy with a simple prayer: that God will use me to bless others, and that He will bring to me those most in need of His love and comfort. I can honestly say that this prayer is answered every time. God always brings someone!

It is a great privilege to serve God in this role. I trust that He will continue to bring people for me to walk alongside, pray with, and share faith with, as I continue to follow in the footsteps of the thousands of pilgrims who have walked this path before me.
 
Maggie Paddison-Chapman (Mrs)