who are our chaplaincy team?

Rev Christine Garrard
Senior Chaplain

After seven and a half years as Rector of two parishes on the Isle of Wight - it was a big decision to move "over seas" to Kent!  God sometimes challenges us in unexpected ways!

After leaving college with a degree in Geography and Religious Studies, back in 1983, I became the warden of an Abbeyfield home, doing all the cooking, shopping and generally looking after the elderly residents.  Following that, I co-ordinated voluntary work at St Lawrence’s Hospital in Caterham, which was a large hospital for people with mental handicap.  After training as a Personnel Officer, I worked in the Personnel Departments of Croydon Health Authority and South Somerset District Council.  It was in 1999 that I was ordained and then spent four years as a Curate at Holy Trinity Church in Weymouth, before taking up the post of Rector of St James, East Cowes and St Mildred’s Whippingham, on the Isle of Wight.

In my role here, it is a joy and privilege to be able to focus on the more pastoral “one to one” aspects of ministry.  It is great to be part of the team at Burrswood, caring for the “whole person” and helping everyone who comes here as a patient or guest to find the love of God and his power to heal.

When my children started pre-school I trained as teacher and at the same time I trained within the Church of England and I was commissioned as an evangelist in the diocese of Rochester in 1999.  At this time I was still teaching but became more and more involved in the broad area of mission and evangelism within the diocese; running Alpha and Emmaus groups, Holiday clubs and youth work. I also spent time teaching and training new evangelists, running quiet days and also getting involved in major events in the diocese such as the Detling Conference. Following on from this period I was selected for ordination and during my training I started working at Maidstone NHS Hospital as a lay chaplain. In 2006 I was ordained as a Self Supporting Minister (SSM Curate) and in my final year at Maidstone hospital I was promoted to senior chaplain.

My four year curacy consisted of working with churches reflecting different theology and practices, where my passion continued through outreach with schools and the wider community. In the last two years of my curacy I commenced working at Burrswood as a chaplain and have also taken on the role Burrswood partnership chaplain. God was calling me out of parish ministry and with my total focus now on the two roles I hold at Burrswood I have a unique opportunity; firstly as a Chaplain to offer spiritual care to patients, guests, staff and visitors, as well as being the Burrswood partnership chaplain, where I can continue that spiritual care and teaching in outside communities.

My experience at Burrswood has helped me to appreciate that there are many different Christian expressions and theological views that inform individuals and communities. I believe that all this is part of God's unique plan to allow each of us to journey in the mystery of God's healing power and be surprised by our radical God who transforms people in body, mind and spirit.

Brian Woodgate
Chaplain

Henry Edwards
Chaplain

Jo Jenkins
Chaplain
I have been a Catholic chaplain at Burrswood for 11 years.
I trained to be a State registered nurse at the Kent & Sussex Hospital, then went to the Hammersmith Hospital and Pembury Hospital for Midwifery and was on the staff at Pembury for some time.  I have also been to Lourdes twice to help nurse the sick.

After starting at Burrswood I did a three year part time course for the Certificate of Religious Studies.

I have been a Eucharistic Minister since 1999 so I have the privilege of giving Catholic Holy Communion if a patient so wishes. If a patient would like a priest to visit I am pleased to arrange this.

Rev Judy Muxlow
Chaplain

Mahalah Cattell
Chaplain

I trained in Music at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama (London) and graduated with a 1st class degree in 1968.  I studied for my Diploma of Education from 1970 in Lancaster and then taught secondary school music in Dorset and Kent for 30 years.

I came to Burrswood in 1990, playing for Sunday evening services. I took over the music in 1998 and over the next few years became a Prayer Minister, the Stewards’ coordinator and joined the Chaplaincy Team as a chaplain to patients.