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By law every pagan prisoner in the UK is entitled to a visit from a Pagan Chaplain. There are around 140 prisons and Young Offenders Institutions in England and Wales and, at present, less than 50 Pagan Chaplains; large areas such as Yorkshire, Lancashire, Kent and Surrey have no Pagan Chaplains at all, so please, if you think you can help, either by becoming a writing Chaplain or a visiting Chaplain or if you would like more information please contact me, Suzzanne White , PO Box 202, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE12 7WF. email is northeast@paganfed.org
Here is an article on Carrie de Fey's work (my predecessor in the role) which was originally printed in Pagan Dawn:
The first time I heard of the Pagan Prison Ministry I was at a Pagan Federation moot; the Regional Coordinator was asking if anybody would like to volunteer. I was attracted to the idea only my confidence let me down; I decided that I didn't know enough and that I would find it difficult to do rituals in a prison environment and anyway, what did I know about the prison system? I heard others discussing the role and coming to the same conclusion and no one from the area volunteered.
At the time I was involved with the protest movement and devoted my energy to that. It kept me busy for a couple of years, and then, after a particularly harrowing eviction, I decided that I had done enough active protesting and turned my attention to protesters who were in prison. I started up a prisoner support group within the Loyal Arthurian Warband, an activist Druid Order. Soon I was receiving letters from prisoners who felt they were being unfairly treated or simply wanted someone to write to who understood their beliefs. During this time I found that working with prisons and prisoners was less daunting than I had first imagined. A while later, the Pagan Federation asked if I would like to manage the Prison Ministry. It complemented the work I was already doing, so I agreed.
People have asked, "Why visit, when some prisoners have committed very unpleasant crimes?" I discussed this with a prisoner who said, "Yes, being in prison we have broken the law, and I well understand how that creates conflict with Pagan beliefs, but does that mean that we are thrown away, discarded, ignored? Even with ECHR [European Convention of Human Rights] and other legal protections we inside face prejudices and ridicule that can threaten the course of our lives, and through us, the lives of our family and friends". A few prisoners have broken the law for political reasons, animal rights for example, but they are the exception. I feel that anyone, no matter what their past, has a right to the services of a Priest/ess of their chosen religion and if a prisoner wishes reform, then supporting their religious beliefs is one important step in that process. As one prisoner said on the subject: "To have an outside chaplain, who is not directly connected to the prison system is a great plus."
A Visiting Chaplain's role is to visit prisoners who may be on remand or convicted. Prisoners have many requirements; some simply want to discuss Paganism and find out their rights, others want to learn about Paganism (over half of the prisoners that I meet have come to Paganism whilst in prison). Some want to participate in a ritual with fellow Pagans, this is not always easy in a prison environment, they are usually refused permission to use the multi-faith room without a Chaplain present and because there is no mixing between wings, often there may be several prisoners in the same prison who are oblivious to the existence of the other Pagan prisoners. Others may want to come to terms with their past, having deep concerns about it. A prison Chaplain also acts as a go-between linking inmates and the establishment, ensuring that the prisoners receive their rights, mediating in disputes and demands, then, if appropriate, agreeing to a compromise that suits both parties. A Visiting Chaplain (VC) may be requested to make a report out for the parole board, a procedure that would be explained by the prison, if needed.
Unfortunately, there are times when despite the best will and efforts, that an agreement with the prison cannot be reached by the VC or by myself; in those circumstances I can refer the matter to the Home Office, who I have always found very supportive.
Many Pagans in prison are reluctant to admit their path, as sometimes a prisoner who declares their beliefs can be branded "immature", "driven by fantasy", "delusional" or worse, this is kept on file and can lose years of remission. Part of the role of a VC can be to help educate the prison staff to understand Paganism.
Often VCs worry that they may not be able to help inmates following a different path to their own, a basic knowledge of the major Pagan paths is very useful but if more teaching is required than a chaplain can give, then an appropriate correspondence course can be considered. Security staff should check any teaching materials taken in, a video might have to be viewed by the Governor, and unless a locker is offered by the Chaplaincy, all items must be taken away and never left with a prisoner without permission.
A Chaplain's visit is not like a normal visit, the prison requires security clearance and the visit takes place on a one to one or group basis. Normally visits take place in the multi-faith room but any suitable room may be used. However, like normal visits, a Chaplain may also be searched. A guard or the Resident Chaplain will be close by and there is usually a panic button in the room. In one prison that I know of open air rituals are now being allowed.
Ritual, when required, has to be kept simple out of necessity; most visits are an hour long, leaving probably only twenty minutes for the rite. It is best to take in the minimum ritual equipment, which should all be agreed by security in advance and certain items such as swords and athames are banned in all prisons. It often happens that there will be members of different paths, with differing levels of experience present. A ritual for a festival could include calling the quarters, then everyone reading or reciting a relevant piece of poetry, song or prose of their choice, blessing some water or fruit juice in a chalice and then closing the quarters.
It is essential for a VC to be a good listener; they shouldn't be gullible or too easily shocked either. They should be able to keep confidences and it is essential to deal with the authorities in a calm, sensible and pleasant manner and a sense of humour is invaluable!
Prisons refund travelling expenses and offer a Chaplain £11 an hour whilst visiting a prisoner, although some VCs do not claim this as prison Chaplaincies have a very restricted budget, some prisons now ask the VC to claim because it is then allowed for in the next years budget. However, this is entirely down to the individual.
When a VC is needed, the Resident Prison Chaplain contacts me at the Pagan Federation and I find the nearest suitable Chaplain available. This doesn't mean that a Chaplain has to belong to the PF, VCs and prisoners are treated alike regardless of their membership status.
Around ten letters every week come into the office from America. US prisoners are even more isolated than British prisoners as they have no right to a Visiting Chapalin and there is virtually no support available for them. Chris from Florida says: "To have a chaplain who will correspond with me, to share their discovery and their beliefs is truly a treasure and yet so hard to find. I'm one of the very few that found that treasure. I cannot write in words how much help that person has given to me. It truly makes an inmate feel like they have someone in their corner and I wish that there were others out there willing to step into a leadership role as a [corresponding] chaplain and help guide the restless spirits behind these fences".
Some British prisoners have no Visiting Chaplains either, sometimes because I can't supply one in their area or because they simply don't feel ready to meet someone in person, in these cases there are corresponding chaplains available but the demand is so great I can't always keep up with it. The Writing Ministry is just as important as the Visiting Ministry and only need take up a couple of hours a month. A Chaplains address and surname should never be give to a prisoner, if a PO Box is required then post can be sent via the Prison Ministry.
I thought I'd end with a word firstly from Mark and then from Paul who has been in prison since he was eighteen; he became Pagan when he was twenty-one, fifteen years ago:
Mark: "It may seem strange to be asking someone to act as a chaplain for a belief that is not dogmatic but it is just a title that helps others access to other like minded individuals"
Paul: "With out a VC, inmates can be left in isolation, with no physical means of practicing their chosen faith, cut off from any sense of community. Remember, we can't go out into the countryside and re-affirm our lives within the Goddess and God - we are in brick, concrete and steel bars. Whilst of necessity many Pagans inside adhere to a solitary path, communication and a meeting of others is a priceless gift. In most prisons that gift can only be given by a Visiting Chaplain".
Thank you to Chris, Paul and Mark and all the other inmates who have helped me compile this article.