Priests called in to comfort the sick and bereaved at pop-up coronavirus hospital

Priests will be on hand to offer comfort to those being treated at the NHS Nightingale Hospital and their loved ones.

London's Excel Centre, a vast exhibition hall, is being transformed into a 4,000-bed hospital to treat people infected with coronavirus. 

Father James Mackay, of St Anne's in Newham, east London, told The Times that he and other faith leaders had been called in to help the immense operation. 

"It's a multifaith operation involving all and sundry: imams, Catholics, Anglicans and others I'm sure," he said.

"We are still in the preparation stage, but our role will be to comfort the sick, deliver the last rites and help those families who have lost loved ones.

"I think there may well be a very big task ahead of us. There are 4,000 beds in there — that's potentially 4,000 dying people."

In addition to doctors and nurses, furloughed staff from EasyJet and Virgin Air - many of whom are trained in first aid - will be serving as carers after the airlines grounded their fleets due to the pandemic. 

They will help to change beds and perform non-clinical tasks.  Some of the airlines' staff will also help out at the makeshift hospitals being planned for Birmingham's NEC and the Manchester Central conference centre.

Both airlines have said they will pay their staff while they work at the hospitals. 

News
What do we know about Simon of Cyrene?
What do we know about Simon of Cyrene?

Easter may have passed, but some figures in the story stay with us long after the day itself. One of those is Simon of Cyrene - a man who appears for only a moment, says nothing, and then disappears. And yet, his story carries lessons we can hold onto all year round.

There may not be a Christian revival, but Britain’s traditional churches aren’t doomed
There may not be a Christian revival, but Britain’s traditional churches aren’t doomed

There are good reasons to doubt that Britain is experiencing a Christian revival today – but that does not mean it is dying out.

Pastor preaches in Bristol city centre despite fears of arrest
Pastor preaches in Bristol city centre despite fears of arrest

A pastor has returned to street preaching in Bristol city centre just over four months after he was arrested for his comments on Islam and transgender ideology. 

The biblical backstory of Iran
The biblical backstory of Iran

Iran is back in the headlines. The word “Iran” does not appear in the Bible, but the names of preceding peoples and empires occupying that land today are written into the biblical narrative. This is the story …