A day in the life of a ship’s chaplain
From marriage thanksgivings to thoughts for the day, the clergyman or woman on board a Saga cruise is a vital member of the crew.
From marriage thanksgivings to thoughts for the day, the clergyman or woman on board a Saga cruise is a vital member of the crew.
The conversion of The Playhouse theatres onboard Saga’s Spirit of Adventure and Spirit of Discovery on Sunday mornings is a wonder to behold.
There may not be an ancient transept or raised, wooden pulpit but, with the help of some divine technical flourishes, these auditoriums – more accustomed to dazzling West End-style choreography than religious services – really do feel like churches.
The backdrop is of a grand cathedral, while the altar, lit up and liturgically dressed, takes centre stage. Gentle music greets members of the congregation as they file in and take their seats – far more comfortable than hard pews in traditional places of worship.
Even more important is the presence of an ordained minister who conducts the services and makes him or herself available to passengers and crew alike.
“We are there for all faiths and none,” says the Venerable Hugh McCurdy, a Church of England archdeacon, who has been the senior chaplain with Saga since 2022.
His role is to work with more than 50 Anglican priests and Methodist ministers, who take turns to be onboard Saga’s ships, a role similar to that of a parish priest in a town or village on land.
“I am so impressed by the way Saga cares for its passengers and crew – and having a member of the clergy available on the ships demonstrates this so powerfully,” says Hugh, 65.
He retired as Archdeacon of Huntingdon and Wisbech, based in Ely, four years ago, and now lives in the small Cambridgeshire village of Haslingfield. I met him in January when we were both on Spirit of Discovery during a wonderful two-week cruise from Portsmouth to Madeira, and then around various sunny Canary Islands, before returning to a soggy UK.
It was obvious what a popular figure he was – a “sounding board”, as he puts it, but also undertaking some highly meaningful duties, such as conducting “shadow funerals”, “marriage thanksgivings” or “committals of ashes”.
Shadow funerals are held at the same time as the actual funerals of friends or family, when it is difficult for someone to be there in person. They follow the same order of service, with the same readings and similar prayers.
“More than anything, I hope passengers see me around the ship and feel that they can come and talk at any time,” says Hugh. “I won’t start a conversation about God, because they know I'm the chaplain. I leave it up to them. It’s all about engaging with people and being ready to listen.
“Often, you get to know people at a deep level over a short period of time, and sometimes they feel that they can talk more freely with me than they can with their own priest because I'm a stranger. It’s a great privilege for me.”
Hugh’s day starts with a “thought for the day” at 9am. Then, at 9.30am, Chaplain’s Corner takes place. These gatherings are often held in a bar, so anyone can drop by if they wish to do so.
“I want to communicate the gospel in a way that's accessible, and you'd be surprised at some of the conversations I've had over the years,” Hugh says. “I remember swimming in the pool on Spirit of Discovery one afternoon when a guest started talking to me as we did our lengths, which led to a long theological discussion later that day beside the pool. It was rewarding for both of us.”
Hugh grew up in Guildford, Surrey. Neither of his parents were religious.
“I was baptised but after that, we never went to church,” he remembers. “Then a school friend invited me to a Christian organisation called Crusaders, and that started my journey towards a faith.”
But it wasn’t until Hugh went to college in Portsmouth, where he studied economics and economic history, that he began to explore the possibility of ordination, which led to three years at Trinity Theological College in Bristol.
It was during that third year that he met his wife, Ruth, and they went on to have three children, all of whom are now grown-up. They have five grandchildren.
“Every time we moved parish, we had another child. And so, in the end, we stopped moving,” jokes Hugh.
For his Sunday services onboard, Hugh involves passengers as much as possible, inviting them to read the lessons or lead the prayers, which, as I know from my own experience on Spirit of Discovery, fosters a genuine sense of community.
“I also really enjoy hosting a table at the solo traveller lunches and at the formal night dinners,” Hugh says. “They're both such convivial occasions, and I always feel lucky to be there. The friendliness of a Saga cruise, where everyone has a story to tell and feels free to share it, is what makes this kind of holiday so special.”
[Hero image credit: Horizon]
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Including exclusive savings for Saga Magazine subscribers, and a special discount of up to 10% when you book two or more cruises back-to-back.
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