A NEW prayer room has been formally opened at Kidderminster Hospital after a full refurbishment last month.

The room, which is open for use by everyone, regardless of faith, was opened by The Rt Rev Graham Usher, the Bishop of Dudley.

Guy Hewlett, Kidderminster Hospital chaplain, said: “The new prayer room offers a place for quiet, reflection and prayer for anyone of any faith.

“In recent times the prayer room was a bit cluttered but we now have a space which is open, accessible and free for everyone.”

The room was formally an old office with a heavy wooden counter, office shelving and pull down metal shutters which gave the room little privacy.

The renovations saw the counter, shelving and shutters removed, a new stud wall was built and an opaque covering put on the main window to allow for privacy.

New notice boards have been fitted outside the room and signage is being renewed and “improved”.

Peter Orton, of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The room used to have no particular features to help focus and there was little on the outside to say what the room was for as the signage was poor.

“It is now very accessible to everyone and we have tried to keep the room simple but welcoming for everyone, irrespective of faith or none.

“There is now a focus on one wall which has been made into a feature including a Christian cross and there is a space for Muslim prayer.

“We are now looking for some helpful way for people to reflect and ponder with no specific faith focus.”

The refurbished prayer room will be used for a Christian Holy Communion service at 2pm on the first Friday of every month.