Bishop of Dover Brings Blessing and Inspiration to Chartwell House

Chartwell House Care Home in Broadstairs was honoured to welcome The Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Bishop of Dover and Bishop in Canterbury, on 19th March 2025. A pioneering figure in the Church of England, she was the first female Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons and a former Chaplain to Her Majesty the Queen. She also played a historic role in the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Her visit celebrated faith and community, emphasising the importance of spiritual connection for residents, families, and the team.

Bishop Rose was joined by Anna Chaplain Judith Andrews, Reverend Phil Barnes from St Mark’s Church, and David Holton from St Laurence Church, whose presence made the occasion even more special. The visit was inspired by Judith’s commitment to bringing worship beyond church walls, ensuring those unable to attend services still receive spiritual and emotional support. Moved by this outreach, Bishop Rose was eager to experience it firsthand.

During her time at Chartwell House, Bishop Rose delivered a heartfelt sermon centred on the parable of the lost sheep, drawing upon her own personal journey of faith. She shared moving reflections from her recently published autobiography, The Girl from Montego Bay, recounting her early years of hardship and how discovering God’s love gave her a profound sense of belonging and purpose.

Reflecting on her visit, Bishop Rose shared her delight in Chartwell House’s welcoming atmosphere, saying, “I walked in, and it felt as though I was in Miami. The sun is shining, and I tell you what, I’m going back home to my husband and saying, ‘I have found the place where I want us to be later on.’ It’s beautiful.”

She went on to deliver a sermon that deeply resonated with residents and guests, reminding them that regardless of life’s challenges, everyone has value. “So I want to encourage you to remember that just like the lost sheep, every single one of us is important in God’s eyes. And it is because you’re important in God’s eyes that Judith and the team here care. Because, in effect, we are God’s hands and feet and voices.”

She further reflected on love and unity, quoting scripture: “There’s a wonderful passage of scripture which says, ‘How can you say you love God whom you’ve never seen and yet you do not love your brothers and sisters whom you can see?’ So I’d like to tell everyone that we are brothers and sisters.”

The visit concluded with a blessing from Bishop Rose, bringing comfort and encouragement to all in attendance. “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up the light of His countenance and give you peace.” Her words left a profound sense of solace and reassurance among residents, families, and the team.

For resident Dorothy Thompson, the visit was deeply meaningful. “Well, we are highly honoured to have a presence here, and she's a lovely lady. Very warm and soft. We appreciate her coming here. We can't get to her, so she comes to us. It's lovely,” she said, before adding, “And she had such special words about Chartwell House. She said some lovely things.” Her daughter, Dayle Brain, echoed this sentiment, saying, “It’s amazing for the home as well, because they do so much. Not every home does that, so it’s quite special. When my mum first arrived, she was nervous and wanted to go back home. But after a recent hospital stay, she said, ‘I want to go home,’ and by that she meant Chartwell House. That says it all.”

Judith Andrews expressed her gratitude for the growing worshipping community at Chartwell House, stating, “I’d just like to say thank you to Chartwell House for welcoming us and the church so readily and making it so easy for us to build this community. I really appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.”

Jude Coveney, Admissions Manager at Chartwell House, also extended her thanks, saying, “We are incredibly grateful to Bishop Rose for her inspiring visit and for sharing such a powerful message with our residents, families, and team. We deeply appreciate the ongoing support from our local faith communities in enriching the lives of those at Chartwell House. A special thank you also goes to Judith Andrews for her unwavering dedication in fostering a spiritual community within our home. Her efforts have created a sense of belonging and connection that is truly invaluable.”

Gurmit Chana of Boutique Care Homes, reflected on the significance of the day, saying, “Today, we were especially blessed to welcome Bishop Rose. Her sermon on the lost sheep was truly inspiring and reaffirmed why she is such a profound and influential leader. We thank her for her visit and for blessing our home.”

Chartwell House, part of Boutique Care Homes, is committed to providing a warm, loving, and community-driven environment, where spiritual and emotional well-being are valued as a key component of life enriching care. The visit from Bishop Rose was evidence to the home’s dedication to holistic, person-centred care.

To discover more about Chartwell House or Boutique Care Homes, please visit www.boutiquecarehomes.co.uk or call 01843 260 970.

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