May your holy angels guard us – a prison chaplain’s day

Timothy Clapton
16 October 2025, The Tablet

ALAMY, ALLAN SWART

Jails are places of anguish, noise and sadness, with many inmates hungry for the sacraments and healing words.

One of the men who was banging on his door wants to complain to me, so I give him time to vent. The cell door between us is closed and locked, so we talk through the hinge. It means we can only see outlines of each other, but if I put my ear to the hinge I can hear him (and can get spat at in the face). It feels a bit like a confessional.

Get Instant Access

Continue Reading

Register for free to read this article in full

Subscribe for unlimited access

From just £37.50 quarterly

  Print copy of The Tablet delivered directly to your door.
  Complete access to all Tablet website content including all premium content.
  Access to the weekly digital copy of The Tablet.
  Full access to The Tablet’s archive – over 180 years of back issues.

Already a subscriber? Login

Article end