The Archbishop of Canterbury has been sneaking down to his local hospital in his sneakers to do some chaplaincy work.
The Most Rev Justin Welby, 64, who lives at Lambeth Place, has been secretly volunteering in lockdown – as chaplain at St Thomas’s Hospital.
The archbishop has had to undergo special training in infection control and wear safety kit over his clerical shirt and dog collar.
He has been making regular visits to comfort the diseased and the dying at the hospital from his nearby flat. Rev Mia Hillborn, head of spiritual healthcare at the hospital, said: “We are very thankful to the Archbishop of Canterbury for taking the time to visit patients at St Thomas’ Hospital. Some of these patients are very unwell and having the support and blessings of the Archbishop at a difficult time has meant the world to them. “We are also grateful for the support he has given to staff who are doing an incredible job during this challenging time.”St Thomas’ is where prime minister Boris Johnson spent a week – including three nights in intensive care – being treated for Covid-19 in April.
Welby started visiting the hospital after the prime minister was discharged.
This year, the archbishop made his Easter broadcast from his kitchen at Lambeth Palace.