Does Prison Chaplaincy Have Value…?

ALPHA at HMP Buckley Hall - The Governor Made Time To Engage!

We recently completed an Alpha Course at HMP Buckley Hall in Rochdale. As usual we called upon the prison Governor to come to the final session in the chapel to hand out the completion certificates. This also gives opportunity for him to ask those who attended what they got out of the course. Now prison Governors being very busy, usually cannot stay very long. They have always been genuinely interested in the work we do with Alpha and do try to give the men chance to express how they feel, if they have benefitted from the course, but often soon have to be elsewhere. However, on this occasion the Governor took the time to stay with us for quite a while. He came to the chapel early, before the prisoners arrived and spoke with us about the work of the chaplaincy. I then explained how I would open the session with prayer and a song, then hand over to him to chat to the men and hand out the certificates. I said I realised he was a busy man and asked if he was O.K. to stay and he said it was fine. He said what he had to do would still be there waiting for him and it wasn't an issue. Several of the men had come to know the Lord or rededicated their lives to him. The Governor really engaged in conversation with those attending and was genuinely interested to hear their feedback. Please pray for this man and for the prison authorities in general, that they will gain a better understanding and more of appreciation of the value of the chaplaincy in prisons.