A very big thank you to everyone who attended the Annual Hospital Church Service held at Holy Trinity Church, Stroud on Sunday 16 October 2016.
NHS staff, members of the League of Friends, volunteers from Stroud General Hospital as well as hospital supporters from the local community, met together with the congregation of Holy Trinity Church for this Hospital Church Service.
The Chaplains at the service were Revd. Dr. Alison Evans, Free Church, Father Jeff Green, Church of England, Canon Tom Gunning, Roman Catholic and the Preacher was Father Frank Wainwright, Roman Catholic Chaplain to the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust & Bishop’s Health Advisor for the Clifton Diocese.
As always, a very warm welcome was given to all and we are extremely grateful to the vicar, Rev. Simon Howell, the Churchwardens and the congregation of Holy Trinity Church for their hospitality on the evening.
The Supertroopers Choir led the hymns during the service and also performed two songs which were both very much enjoyed by the congregation.
The service this year was lively, humorous and interesting with a talk from Sister Helen Acock about recent developments in the services at Stroud General Hospital including the Joint Advisory Group (JAG) accreditation which has rated both Stroud and Cirencester Hospitals amongst the best for endoscopy and two of only twelve community hospitals in the country to receive such accreditation.
There was also a conversation with Matron, Juliette Richardson and Dr Gordon Horner, Interim Chair of Stroud Hospitals League of Friends and the retiring Chairman of the League of Friends, Mr David Miller MBE and his wife, Margaret, were very warmly thanked for their hard work and support over very many years. Father Frank Wainwright gave a very relevant and entertaining address, which was very much appreciated by all those who were there and many of the congregation stayed after the service for refreshments and a chat.
Photo shows, from left to right: Canon Tom Gunning, Father Frank Wainwright, Father Jeff Green, Reverend Simon Howell, Reverend Doctor Alison Evans