Humanism Now | Secular Ethics, Curiosity and Compassionate Change 35. Lindsay de Wal on Redefining Chaplaincy & the Rise of non-religious Pastoral Care in the NHS
"Transcendence is the connection with something wider; the world, the cosmos, nature, other fellow human beings, and doing good in this life"— Dr Lindsay De Wal
When Dr Lindsay De Wal became the first non-religious head of chaplaincy in the NHS, she redefined what spiritual support can look like in modern healthcare. From sceptical colleagues to international media headlines, her appointment marked a turning point for inclusive pastoral care.
In this powerful and personal conversation, Lindsay shares how she built a humanist framework for care grounded in deep listening, horizontal transcendence and unwavering compassion.
In This Episode
- Why only 4% of hospital chaplaincy visits serve non-religious patients
- How the Netherlands became a global leader in humanist pastoral care
What “horizontal transcendence” means—and why it matters in non-religious care - The art of active listening and the power of silence in emotional support
- How to become a humanist pastoral carer—and why demand is growing fast
- The rise of the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network across the NHS
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Episode References:
- Become a Pastoral Carer, UK Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network
- The Development of Non-Religious Pastoral Support in the UK, Dr David Savage
- History of The Netherlands Humanists Association, Humanistisch Verbond
- Interview with Lindsay de Wal: UK’s First Humanist NHS Chaplain on Non-Religious Pastoral Care, The Humanist
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Music: Blossom by Light Prism