Confirmation for hospice patient

Back before the full lockdown, Bishop Michael Hooper was able to confirm 89 year old Margaret Shingles, a patient at KEMP hospice in Kidderminster, in her home. Associate Chaplain to the hospice, Alex Vaccaro, tells her story. 

Margaret Shingles moved to Bewdley in 1964 but was originally from Lowestoft. When her sister was confirmed in her early teens, Margaret didn’t feel that she was ready to make the commitment. She said: 

“In those days you had to promise to go to church every week and I didn’t feel that I could make that promise honestly at that point.”

In the years that followed Margaret always kept her faith and attended church but never did get confirmed and so never received Holy Communion. Having cared for and nursed family members, at the age of 89 Margaret’s own health is now problematic and before lockdown she was attending KEMP Day Hospice in Kidderminster every Tuesday.

It was when we were discussing the possibility of a Communion service at KEMP that Margaret mentioned that she had only ever received a blessing as she was not confirmed. We asked if she would like to be and she said that she would, very much, but didn’t think this would be possible as she wasn’t well enough to attend church any more.

We at KEMP like a challenge. After making enquiries with the diocesan office, it was arranged that Bp Michael Hooper would come and confirm Margaret at KEMP on St Patrick’s day, and that she would make her first communion at the same time. Plans were put in place, a card secretly made and signed by all the staff and Margaret’s friends at KEMP, and a cake baked and decorated by Richard the chef. And then the Coronavirus struck.

On the morning of 17 March, the planned confirmation day, there was a frantic phone call at 8.30am to say that the Day Hospice had to be closed – but was there any chance that the confirmation could take place at Margaret’s home? We were not in full lockdown at that point and were not about to be defeated and said, of course it could. So, later that morning, Bp. Michael, Fr. Tim Williams, Team Rector of Kidderminster West, and six of the staff and volunteers from KEMP made the journey to Margaret’s home.

Margaret was amazed and somewhat overwhelmed; even though we’d said it would happen, she still didn’t quite believe it. But, in her front room and joined by us and her only two local family members, she affirmed her faith, and, in a service of pure joy, was confirmed and made her first Communion.

Afterwards the celebratory cake was cut and enjoyed. “How does it feel to be confirmed,” I asked Margaret. “Lovely!” she said. “I didn’t think it would be possible, but it was, and I’m so very grateful.”

Margaret is a great favourite at KEMP and it has been a real joy and privilege for us all to be able to make this happen for her. We’re also so grateful to Bp Michael Hooper for making it such a special occasion for Margaret and all of us.

Revd Canon Alex Vaccaro – Associate Chaplain, KEMP Hospice