Patients, staff and members of the public are being invited to share their experiences of the Chapel at the Royal Sussex County Hospital ahead of its move to a new home on the site.
The interior of the 165 year old Chapel will start a new life as part of the 3Ts Redevelopment of the hospital. A purpose built space in the redevelopment’s first new building will house the beautiful, grade 2 listed Chapel.
The Chaplaincy Team would like to hear about memories and experiences of the Chapel to help commemorate its role in the life of the hospital so far. From Monday 3rd May there will be a book in the Chapel where anyone can record such items. These can also be sent directly to the Chaplaincy Team using the button below.
Each day from Sunday 2nd May to Sunday 9th May there will be a thirty minute period of reflection between 12.30 and 1.00 pm. There will be readings, music and a candle lit to mark the transition of the Chapel.
The Chapel will close its doors in its current location in the Barry Building on the evening of Sunday 9th May. This will mark the start of a lengthy process to carefully dismantle its interior; stone work, windows, memorial plaques and all, ready for transfer to its new home. The elements that cannot be moved, such as the plasterwork, will be faithfully recreated in the new space.
The memorial books usually on display in the Chapel will be kept in the Chaplain’s Office where they will be available to view. A space for quiet reflection and prayer is being prepared in the Barry Building and will open in due course. The Oasis in the Children’s Hospital will also be used for this purpose until the reflection space in the Barry Building opens.
Memories of the Chapel shared over the coming weeks will be included in the heritage information about the hospital. They will be displayed when the Chapel opens in its new home. A selection of the memories will also be shared on this webpage. This webpage will remain active while the Chapel is closed.
If you have any queries about the provision of Chaplaincy services while the Chapel works are underway please email: joanna.elliott5@nhs.net
If you have any queries about the physical move of the Chapel’s interior and its inclusion in the 3Ts Redevelopment please email: UHSussex.3ts@nhs.net
