“Christ, the Great Physician”: Chaplains in 19th-Century British Asylums

This article explores the role of chaplains in 19th-century British asylums, focusing on the duties expected of them and the challenges they faced. These pivotal figures have so far remained largely under historians’ radar, which belies their importance in these institutions. It is argued here that they provided not only pastoral and spiritual care but that they also took an active interest in the education and entertainment of their flock. Examples are taken from a variety of asylums, including Hanwell, Colney Hatch, Littlemore, and Rainhill, where chaplains were particularly active and where reports and journals offer a rich source of as yet untapped information. This article will highlight the therapeutic potential assigned to their ministry and aims to raise the profile of these 19th century clergymen who worked in close collaboration with superintendents under often demanding conditions.