Dying and death from a Christian perspective

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Dying and death from a Christian perspective

• David Barnett
• Chaplain
• St Johns Hospice

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Christianity
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Christianity

• The Christian faith
• I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of
  heaven and earth
• And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who
  was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the
  Virgin Mary suffered under Pontius Pilate, was
  crucified, dead and buried.
• He descended into hell the third day he rose
  again from the dead,he ascended into heaven is
  seated at the right hand of God from thence he
  shall come to judge the living and the dead.
• I believe in the holy catholic (universal)
  Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness
  of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the
  life everlasting.

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Where have we come from? - up until mid-1900s

• Framework Christian for life and death, common
  faith understanding
• Dying and Death at home, role of doctor to
  predict timing so could prepare to meet Maker
• Concerns future of my soul with God
• Funeral in local church where baptised,
  confirmed, married know priest,
  religious service
• Burial in church graveyard, where all can visit
• Mourning visible for all black acknowledged,
  shared, respected by all in
  community

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Where have we come from? - 1950s to 1970s

• Framework religion increasingly
  private/individual less Christian understanding
  community starting to fragment where
  live/work/social family spread in UK other
  faiths
• Dying and Death more medicalised/institutional,
  privatised only 50 deaths at home
• Concerns to live my life to the full, less on
  eternal future
• Funeral10 at crematorium(1947), 50 by 1968
  not seen as sacred, governed by public
  health out of sight, only visit for
  death. Service limited to 20 minutes.
  Service more memorial, for mourners
• Mourning Grief more personal, less part of
  community more internal experience losing
  norms of rituals

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Where have we come from? - 1980s to 2000s

• Framework wide range of faith understanding/pract
  ice family support scattered residual
  Christianity still clergy main role in taking
  funerals.
• Dying and Death medicalised, private, now 25 at
  home little experience of reality
  of death
• Concerns me death a release from suffering
  early death unfair how will my
  family cope? Euthanasia?
• Funeral 70 at crematorium, services longer (30
  mins) my funeral plan choice of
  music, readings, venue (woodland) CoE
  choice 160pp
• Mourning individual black/no black
  flowers/donations personal to get over
  return to communal shrines

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So where are we now?

• 78 Christian 6 other faiths, 16 no religion
  (2001 Census, 92 answered optional open
  question)
• Range of Christian denominations, not just CoE,
  RC, Methodist, Baptist etc
• Find wide variation in
• importance of faith to individual
• individual knowledge/ways of practicing their
  faith
• About the individual, own choice

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What may be important in illness and dying?
Prayer
Our Father . . .
Rosary
Cross
Prayer Book Hymns Music
Crucifix
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What may be important in illness and dying?

• Bible Reading

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What may be important in illness and dying?

• Sacraments, Rituals

Holy Communion Sacrament of Sick (Last
Rites) Confession, Forgiveness,
Reconciliation Anointing, Blessing, Laying on of
hands Affirmation of Relationships Commendation
at end of life
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Issues around death?

• After death no specific requirements for
  handling the body
• Funerals burial or cremation
• Spiritual issues to do with death?
• Concerns in reviewing life re. Confession,
  Forgiveness, Reconciliation
• Concerns re. After-life
• - offer to refer to appropriate minister

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So many people looking after Jacks body, but who
is looking after Jack?
NICE Guidance on Improving Supportive and
Palliative Care (2004) Ch.7 Spiritual Support
It is best practice!
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Help?? Dont be too afraid to do right for
fear of doing wrong!

• Each an individual own beliefs values, own way
  of practising faith
• Dont pre-judge / presume
• Just ask
• What would help? How best to help? Who best
  to help?

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Dying and death from a Christian perspective

• David Barnett
• Chaplain
• St Johns Hospice
• david_at_sjhospice.org.uk

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Useful references, websites

• Neuberger, Julia Caring for Dying People of
  Different Faiths
• (3rd Edn, 2004, Radcliffe Medical Press)
• Billings, Alan Dying and Grieving (2002, SPCK)
• www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/spiritualcare/resources
• A Multi-faith Resource for Healthcare Staff
• Spiritual Care Matters
• Religion and Belief Matter
• www.mfghc.com/resources
• Multi-faith Group for Healthcare Chaplaincy
• www.diversiton.com information by/about
  different faiths
• www.ethnicityonline.net healthcare
  information for faith groups