We'd like to wish all our Christian staff and patients a happy Easter. People will be spending their Easter weekends very differently this year, with family and friends not able to get together to celebrate. Of course, many of our staff will be at work caring for others rather than spending time with their families.

  We spoke to our Lead Trust Chaplain, Reverend Philip Wright about what Easter means to him, and how we can celebrate Easter with our loved ones this year – even if that is virtually rather than in person!

“What does Easter mean to me? Well as a Christian it’s the most important time of the Christian calendar, it’s the crucifixion of Christ on Good Friday and the resurrection on the 3rd day. Without getting theological, (and those that know me know I’m not!), what it really means to me is simply a chance to be reborn, start afresh, be filled with hope and a new life. The past dying and it’s a new beginning, a new life. It reminds me that I am loved by God, I am loved by Jesus and that there is always hope and forgiveness. When I say loved by Jesus I can imagine people cringing, as it sounds like I’m about to burst into song with a tambourine and bells, (which is so not me, give me rock n roll please!), but there is nothing cringe worthy about Jesus dying on the cross. It would have been brutal, it would have been horrific and painful, the worst type of death. However that’s not the full story - you see, I try and focus on the 3rd day! The resurrection, the sign from God of new life and eternity.

“As a hospital chaplain I often talk to families about the moment of beauty within the tragedy or trauma. Often it’s a hand squeeze, a smile or sometimes more profound but the resurrection has to be the ultimate moment of beauty within the tragedy. In the words of the most famous football hymn “Abide With Me”, the resurrection is when death has lost its sting! So Easter to me is a time when I reflect, I ask for forgiveness and I look forward with hope and a sense of being cleansed to the future.

“This Easter will be different due to coronavirus. Easter is usually a time when families get together. For many it’s the only time apart from Christmas. For many people it’s also a time they would normally go to church. I usually attend a “March of Witness” which is where everyone walks from their own church and we all meet in the park for an open air service. But not this year! This year we are confined to our houses and, if lucky enough, our gardens. Families and friends are zooming rather than physically meeting and church is now a virtual experience. How different the world is from those 2000 years ago! However, it’s not all bad news, many do have access to phone, Skype and social media and we all have access to God whether we are stuck at home or working in a hospital, so this Easter my challenge to you is say one prayer over the weekend and we will get through this.”