The Revd Dr Rosalind Lane was a Prison Chaplain from 1996-2012. She was awarded her Doctorate in 2016 for a thesis entitled ‘Imprisoned Grief: A theological, Spiritual and Practical Response’. In her research, she highlights the role of the Prison Chaplain as one who ‘shepherds away from home’ and argues that Chaplains are uniquely placed to support those who are disenfranchised in their grief whilst in prison. Her epistemological standpoint is one of a practitioner/researcher as a practical theologian, and arises from theological reflection on the experiences of those in her care. Her research highlights that those in prison as well as being disenfranchised whilst grieving can become imprisoned in their grief in many different ways. She investigates the distinctive work of the chaplain, what is spiritual, religious, symbolic, and/or theological about it, and in so doing what areas of prisoner lives could be enfranchised and liberated in addressing these painful parts of their lives. She offers a unique insight to how faith operates in this hidden part of public life.

A response to her talk will be given by The Revd Paul Cowley, MBE, drawing on his own experience of both serving time in prison and of working through various organisations to help ex-offenders reintegrate into society. As a young man, Paul Cowley spent time in HMP Risley; he then served for seventeen years in the British Army. On leaving, he had a career in business, before changing his vocation to become a priest in the Church of England, serving at Holy Trinity Brompton. In 2005 he founded the charity Caring for Exoffenders, which has helped over 2,000 men and women re-integrate and re-join the workforce, and for which he was awarded an MBE in 2016.