Newham Hospital's new Christian Chaplain
We’re delighted to introduce Olufunke Aliu (who goes by Funke), the new Christian Chaplain at Newham Hospital. She hails from and lives in Dagenham with her six children, has been an ordained Pentecostal minister since 2017 and has worked in hospital chaplaincy since 2017.
Tell us about your journey into hospital chaplaincy
“I’ve been a pastor for over eight years in my local church and love it. But I always felt I could give back more, in a different way. Then, one day, I bumped into a friend who is a hospital chaplain. She told me how much she loves it and that I should give it a try. So, I did!
“I started volunteering as a chaplain at Guys and St Thomas’ in 2017 and loved it. I loved it so much that I enrolled to study healthcare chaplaincy which allowed me to become a chaplain full time.
“As a chaplain, I feel I can make a real difference to the experience patients have while in hospital. And to be able to do so in Newham, in east London where I’m from, is something I’m excited by and proud of.”
What does being a chaplain mean to you?
“Being a hospital chaplain means the world to me. Every day, I wake up and feel like I can and will make a positive difference to those I meet. I feel like I can bring comfort, peace and hope to patients, their friends and families during their time here and also to staff. And for me, bringing hope is what’s most important, because without that, we lose everything.”
"Being able to provide comfort and make people smile is the most rewarding thing.”
What does a day in the life of a chaplain look like?
“Our days can be varied, but broadly they involve the same thing – supporting patients and providing them with spiritual care in a way that works best for them. For some patients, it’s giving them communion or saying prayers by their bedside. For others, it’s reading scripture together, singing one of their favourite hymns or simply providing a compassionate ear.
“Naturally, patients of a Christian faith are those I see and support the most, but I often find myself talking to people of all faiths or with no faith, who simply want to have a comforting conversation with someone. And I’m proud to be able to offer them that. I’m also here to talk to staff and provide them with comfort and support, something I did a lot of during the pandemic.”
What’s the best thing about your job?
“Hands down, the best thing about my job is leaving people in a better mental and emotional state than I met them in. Being able to provide comfort and make people smile is the most rewarding thing.”
If you see Funke around, be sure to say hi.
Read more: