The Faith and Community Centre based at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) celebrated the dedication of a new engraved Chapel window created by Oxford based artist Nicholas Mynheer.

The window was designed in part by the children of Christ the King Roman Catholic Primary School, who helped to commission the art – donating £1,500 to the QEHB Faith and Community Centre after raising money in their Lent appeal.

Reverend Richard Wharton (Christian Chaplain at QEHB) and Nicholas Mynheer visited the school on a number of occasions to explore ideas with the children, of what sort of work they would like created and what theme they would like the work to portray.

The children recognised the hospital as a place of healing and considered the particular contribution that the chaplains and chaplaincy volunteers make in this healing environment. They decided that they would like the art work to be done in glass, and to be a depiction of one of the healing miracles from the bible of the unnamed blind man lowered through the roof to receive healing from Jesus.

The service, held in the Chapel, was attended by all those involved in the process of creating the window and was blessed by the Roman Catholic Vicar General, Monsignor Tim Menezes, who spoke about the significance of art within faiths.

 “Art helps to tell a story that words cannot describe. A picture can speak to people of all faiths or even people with none. The Faith and Community Centre supports this, as it is a multi-faith centre that works together to aid healing.”

Taylor (aged 10) and Lilly (aged 7), from Christ the King Roman Catholic Primary School, who took part in the fund raising and in the design process, said: “We hope everyone likes the new window and we all hope patients in the hospital get better”

Reverend Richard Wharton added “We would like to thank the school for their inspiring imagination, thinking outside of the box and their enthusiasm for showing a commitment to the hospital.“