On 8th May 2003 the new inter-denominational hospital church at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry was opened.  This marked the fulfilment of a desire by the hospital chaplains, the Newry and Mourne Health and Social Services Trust, and members from local business and community sectors, to create a new accessible church space in Daisy Hill Hospital for the benefit of patients, their relatives and friends, and hospital staff.

The need for a new church had been an ongoing concern for chaplains and Trust staff for a number of years.  The existing church did not serve well the needs of patients and staff, not least in its location, which was 100 metres outside the main hospital block and, therefore could only be accessed by going outdoors.  The Trust had agreed a space for a new church, which was to be in a prime internal location near the main entrance to the hospital.  Some smaller rooms were to be restructured to provide a church and a Chaplaincy office complete with its own small kitchen. However, lack of funds had prevented further progress.  At the Trust's suggestion, an approach was made to Mr Feargal McCormack from the Newry business sector to organise the fundraising for the project.  An initial meeting held with him by the Trust and the chaplains in August 2002 began a creative process that in just nine months would see the realisation of the project.

Feargal McCormack gathered together a fundraising group made up of representatives from the business and community sectors, Trust staff, and the hospital chaplains.  Consisting of twenty-six members, this group met every fortnight early on Friday mornings before the start of office hours until the church was formally opened.  It was their responsibility to raise the funding shortfall for the new church, a target of one hundred thousand pounds.  The fundraising appeal went to churches, schools, and community groups, as well as to hospital staff and patients.  Donations came from throughout the hospital catchment area, from individuals and groups, varying in amounts from one pound to seven thousand pounds.

The chaplains, in conjunction with the Trust, particularly in the person of Mrs Dorothy Morton, the Hotel Services Manager, and with the architects, had the responsibility for the design and interior decoration of the church.  This involved attention to detail and a considerable investment of time and energy on the part of the chaplains.

Great care was taken in designing and equipping the church.  Three times the chaplains visited the artist's studio in Lisburn where the stained glass features originated.  They went to the workshop in Ballygowan where the church furniture - the church has a table and a lectern - was specially designed and made, making it distinctive to Daisy Hill Hospital Church.  They consulted the hospital orthopaedic department in regard to the seating for the Church, for the priority was for patients and their comfort.  A trip was made to Belfast to choose a sound system, which they then tried out in the church before making the final decision.  The chaplains also, in consultation with the architects, chose colour schemes, lights, and soft furnishings.

The two permanent features in the church are the specially commissioned stained glass pieces.  At the architect's suggestion, one of these is a window, located on one side of the church, bringing in light from a narrow courtyard.  The window allows natural light into the church while obscuring the close proximity of adjacent buildings.  It is a colourful nine-panelled stained glass window representing the cycle of life.  It illustrates the revelation of God's redemption from the Tree of Life in the Creation story to the images of God's glory in the Book of Revelation.  One panel depicts an empty cross through which the light shines, symbolising the triumph of God's healing over pain and the victory of life over death.  The window contains words from Psalm 30: 'Tears may flow in the night, but joy comes in the morning.'

The other stained glass piece, depicting a cross and a vine, is at the front of the church, illuminated by lights from behind, providing a permanent focal point.  The chaplains bring any additional materials they wish for the various services that are now being held in the church.  However, the church does not only provide an accessible and inter-denominational space for worship.  It represents the importance placed on spiritual needs in the processes of care and healing.  It is a place available for patients, relatives and staff to come to at any time, serving as both a church and a quiet room, and somewhere the chaplains can spend time with people.

The hospital church consecration service, which was led by the four chaplains, was part of an open day to which people came to see the new church for themselves and give thanks for it.  The publicity this day and indeed the whole venture received enhanced the profile not only of the chaplaincy service, but of Daisy Hill Hospital, and of the city of Newry.