9 Sep 2026, 11:42Enoch Kanagaraj BEM DLWatford, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom
First Honorary Chaplain Appointed at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has welcomed Enoch Kanagaraj BEM DL, Founder and Chief Executive of One Vision Charity, as its first Honorary Chaplain, marking a significant development in the Trust’s approach to pastoral and spiritual care.
Enoch, a Seventh-day Adventist, brings extensive experience of working across faith, health and community settings in Hertfordshire. Through One Vision Charity and its Faith and Health Network, he has worked to strengthen relationships between faith communities, the NHS, public health and other statutory partners, with a particular focus on tackling health inequalities and reaching communities that can sometimes experience barriers to accessing services.
The honorary chaplaincy will enable Enoch to support patients, families and staff alongside the Trust’s wider pastoral and spiritual care team, serving people of all faiths and none.
Speaking about the appointment, Enoch said:
“I am deeply humbled and privileged to be appointed as the first Honorary Chaplain at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
As a Seventh-day Adventist, my faith teaches me that caring for the whole person, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually, is at the heart of Christian service.
Hospitals are places where we experience some of the most joyful moments of life, but also some of the most difficult. Sometimes people need someone simply to be present, to listen, to offer reassurance or, where appropriate, to pray with them.
While I am proud to serve from my Adventist Christian faith, my commitment is to stand alongside everyone, irrespective of their faith, culture or background. Compassion has no boundaries.”
The appointment also reflects the growing importance of collaboration between healthcare organisations and local faith communities.
Through One Vision’s work across Hertfordshire, Enoch has championed the role that trusted faith and community networks can play in prevention, early intervention, health education and addressing inequalities. The charity has worked with communities on issues including cancer awareness, unpaid carers, cardiovascular health, community safety and wider health and wellbeing.
For Enoch, the honorary chaplaincy is also closely connected to the Seventh day Adventist understanding of whole person healthand the example of Jesus in caring for those who were sick, isolated or vulnerable.
A Bible verse which Enoch says captures the heart of the appointment is Matthew 25:36:
“I was sick, and ye visited me.”
He added:
“Those few words are incredibly powerful. Chaplaincy is about presence. We may not always have an answer to someone’s circumstances, but we can listen, care and ensure that they do not feel they are facing those moments alone.
My prayer is that God will use me to bring hope, kindness and compassion to patients, families and NHS colleagues.”
Sharon Platt-McDonald, Director for Health at BUC said:
We warmly congratulate Enoch on his appointment as the first Honorary Chaplain at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. This is a significant opportunity to demonstrate the Seventh day Adventist commitment to whole person health, compassionate Christian service and caring for people at some of the most important and vulnerable moments of their lives.
Enoch has consistently demonstrated a passion for bringing faith, health and community together. We pray that God will richly bless him in this new role as he serves patients, families and NHS staff of all faiths and none, reflecting the love, hope and compassion of Christ through his service
The appointment represents another opportunity to build bridges between the NHS and Hertfordshire’s diverse communities, recognising spiritual wellbeing as an important part of compassionate, person centred care.
It also reflects the biblical call in Galatians 6:10:
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men.”
For Enoch, that remains at the heart of both his community leadership and his new honorary role: faith expressed through service, and service offered to everyone.
Enoch Kanagaraj BEM DL is the Founder and Chief Executive of One Vision Charity, a Hertfordshire based charity working with communities and partners across health, wellbeing, social inclusion and community cohesion. He is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and has been appointed as the first Honorary Chaplain at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has welcomed Enoch Kanagaraj BEM DL, Founder and Chief Executive of One Vision Charity, as its first Honorary Chaplain, marking a significant development in the Trust’s approach to pastoral and spiritual care.
Enoch, a Seventh-day Adventist, brings extensive experience of working across faith, health and community settings in Hertfordshire. Through One Vision Charity and its Faith and Health Network, he has worked to strengthen relationships between faith communities, the NHS, public health and other statutory partners, with a particular focus on tackling health inequalities and reaching communities that can sometimes experience barriers to accessing services.
The honorary chaplaincy will enable Enoch to support patients, families and staff alongside the Trust’s wider pastoral and spiritual care team, serving people of all faiths and none.
Speaking about the appointment, Enoch said:
“I am deeply humbled and privileged to be appointed as the first Honorary Chaplain at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
As a Seventh-day Adventist, my faith teaches me that caring for the whole person, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually, is at the heart of Christian service.
Hospitals are places where we experience some of the most joyful moments of life, but also some of the most difficult. Sometimes people need someone simply to be present, to listen, to offer reassurance or, where appropriate, to pray with them.
While I am proud to serve from my Adventist Christian faith, my commitment is to stand alongside everyone, irrespective of their faith, culture or background. Compassion has no boundaries.”
The appointment also reflects the growing importance of collaboration between healthcare organisations and local faith communities.
Through One Vision’s work across Hertfordshire, Enoch has championed the role that trusted faith and community networks can play in prevention, early intervention, health education and addressing inequalities. The charity has worked with communities on issues including cancer awareness, unpaid carers, cardiovascular health, community safety and wider health and wellbeing.
For Enoch, the honorary chaplaincy is also closely connected to the Seventh day Adventist understanding of whole person healthand the example of Jesus in caring for those who were sick, isolated or vulnerable.
A Bible verse which Enoch says captures the heart of the appointment is Matthew 25:36:
“I was sick, and ye visited me.”
He added:
“Those few words are incredibly powerful. Chaplaincy is about presence. We may not always have an answer to someone’s circumstances, but we can listen, care and ensure that they do not feel they are facing those moments alone.
My prayer is that God will use me to bring hope, kindness and compassion to patients, families and NHS colleagues.”
Sharon Platt-McDonald, Director for Health at BUC said:
We warmly congratulate Enoch on his appointment as the first Honorary Chaplain at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. This is a significant opportunity to demonstrate the Seventh day Adventist commitment to whole person health, compassionate Christian service and caring for people at some of the most important and vulnerable moments of their lives.
Enoch has consistently demonstrated a passion for bringing faith, health and community together. We pray that God will richly bless him in this new role as he serves patients, families and NHS staff of all faiths and none, reflecting the love, hope and compassion of Christ through his service
The appointment represents another opportunity to build bridges between the NHS and Hertfordshire’s diverse communities, recognising spiritual wellbeing as an important part of compassionate, person centred care.
It also reflects the biblical call in Galatians 6:10:
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men.”
For Enoch, that remains at the heart of both his community leadership and his new honorary role: faith expressed through service, and service offered to everyone.
Enoch Kanagaraj BEM DL is the Founder and Chief Executive of One Vision Charity, a Hertfordshire based charity working with communities and partners across health, wellbeing, social inclusion and community cohesion. He is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and has been appointed as the first Honorary Chaplain at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
