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Chaplain
Chaplains are very important members of the "Healing Team" and are available to assist patients and their families with emotional and spiritual concerns. The Spiritual Care Department hopes you will feel free to call upon us to help you on your healing journey.
Our Spiritual Care Department includes a full-time professional Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Chaplain and Volunteer Chaplains. Rutherford Hospital respects the traditions, faith, denomination and personal experience of our patients. We are here to support you and to encourage the involvement of your own clergy. If you need help contacting clergy of any faith, the Spiritual Care Department will be happy to assist you. The Chaplain's office is located in the Surgery Waiting Area.
Our Spiritual Care Department provides spiritual care through:
- Being there with families during a crisis to serve as a liaison between family and staff
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Helping the patient deal with his or her worries, fears, concerns and questions
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Being with patients and families to listen during an emergency or crisis
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Pastoral counseling
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Being available for emergency or crisis situations for patients and families seven days a week
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Assisting the patient, family and staff as they struggle with medical/ethical issues
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Supporting patient, family, and friends during times of grief and bereavement
Hospital Chapel
 The Chapel, located on the first floor, is open for you and your family at all times. We realize that there could be a time when you or your family may need a quiet place to reflect. For pastoral care, please feel free to call our hospital chaplain.
St. Luke's Chapel
 St. Luke's Chapel is located on the northeast corner of Hospital Drive and Old Twitty Ford Road. St. Luke's was built during the construction of Rutherford Hospital and is the only original building still standing on the hospital grounds today.
The Chapel was built by Dr. and Mrs. Henry Norris of Philadelphia, founders of Rutherford Hospital. In 1908 the Norris couple initiated the construction of a chapel on the Hospital grounds to meet their needs as well as the staff and patients. The Chapel is named St. Luke's after St. Luke, the physician and healer in the Bible.
A restoration project in 1954 was completed by Falton Hodge and a group of church youth. They refurbished the Chapel with furnishings brought from the Green River plantation chapels.
In 1965 a second restoration project was undertaken by the Nurses Alumni. The building was moved back sixteen feet from the road and underpinned with brick. The library in the Chapel was restored and is full of wonderful old books, many of them donated to Rutherford Hospital's School of Nursing by the original hospital staff and others from the community. The original features which remain today include a small, formal garden enclosed by a circular brick wall, located behind the chapel.
In 1991, the Rutherford Hospital Auxiliary allocated funds to renovate the exterior of the Chapel. The following year, the Auxiliary applied for and received acceptance of St. Luke's on the National Register of Historical Places in North Carolina. Preservation and promotion of the Chapel is an on-going Auxiliary project.
The Chapel is now opened to the public daily and is available for small weddings and programs held at Christmas by the Hospital staff. Reservations can be made through the Volunteer Office by calling 828-286-5338.
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