Social work is, at best, suspicious of talk of spirituality, fearing proselytising; while, in the health service, the chaplaincy has, in some ways, absolved staff of concern for the spiritual needs of patients. At the same time, some religions have harboured a stigma about mental health. Peter Gilbert, who has died of motor neurone disease, set up his professional stall in this very uneven ground to undertake pioneering work on spirituality and health, and social care.Gilbert’s own values stemmed from his deep Catholic faith – he was ever grateful to the Benedictines for the education he enjoyed at Worth School – but he saw spirituality as wider than religion. Social workers could not meet the needs of their clients, or the doctor or nurse treat the patient, unless they