Quaker Prison Chaplains (QPCs)

QPCs work with the chaplaincies of about 110 of Britain's 140 or so prisons. They have the right to visit any registered Quaker who requests a visit from the QPC.

In many prisons QPCs have developed a much wider role often with the Chaplaincy Team, offering friendship and support to prisoners who may be wary of formal religion and to some of the staff. 

Monthly Meetings nominate QPCs and then the MM Clerk is asked to send a copy of the minute to QPSW (Alison Prout). In response, nominated QPMs are sent a pack of information including a form to send to the relevant prison, a Handbook and a Directory of QPCs. It is the prison that makes the actual appointment.

Many prisons provide expenses for Prison Chaplains, in some cases where this is not available the Monthly Meeting contributes towards expenses.

The role of QPC can feel isolated and can become very challenging. Monthly Meetings can help maintain Friends' awareness of their local prison(s) and the work of Quaker Prison Chaplaincy by inviting the QPC to speak and/or write regularly about the work, while always respecting the need for confidentiality.

Resources

• Paragraphs 13.44 to 13.53 of Quaker Faith & Practice describe the work more fully. (The appointment process has changed since the last print.)
• QPSW sends QPCs Newsletter to all QPCs (and other Friends involved with work in prisons) twice a year. 
• The Quaker Prison Chaplaincy Group (seven active QPCs, appointed to serve on the Group by QPSW) organises various forms of support for QPCs, including one-day or weekend conferences, usually held in the autumn each year. 
• The confidential Directory of QPCs enables QPCs to contact one another when needing particular advice or support or when prisoners are being moved from one prison to another. (Each QPC chooses what information they share)

This briefing compiled by Alison Prout (QPSW) tel: 020 7663 1035, fax: 020 7663 1001, email: alisonp@quaker.org.uk, Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ.