20 years of pnmuk

A young man sat on the wall outside a city-centre church, blending in with other visitors enjoying the sun. I was deep in conversation with parish nurse Daphne and hadn’t paid much attention. But Daphne had. She greeted him by name. In the few minutes I’d been gone to get milk, she’d discovered he’d just been released from prison, was homeless, and vulnerable to falling back in with the wrong crowd. Well connected with the local housing team, Daphne had already found him a bed for the night and was advising him not only where to get a hot meal but also which direction to walk to avoid trouble.

This is parish nursing, city-centre style.

At the livestock market, the café buzzes with farmers and families gathering for breakfast after early starts. Amid the noise and muddy boots, a quiet “How are you?” led to a farmer breaking down, sharing raw grief. In a private room, he opened up. Another visitor asked how to stay healthy while working night shifts at the abattoir. Parish nurse Mary and her team regularly screen for high blood pressure—four identified at the last session, two of them previously undiagnosed—and chat about everything from sleep to mental health.

This is parish nursing in a rural setting.

In a suburban church in the North West, parish nurse Louise helps people with sight loss participate fully in church life. In a coastal town, Wendy’s gardening project—funded by the National Garden Scheme—transformed abandoned ground into a green oasis providing fresh food and community for people in temporary housing. In East Anglia, Phoebe works with people recovering from leg ulcers, teaching them how to prevent recurrence. Amber offers long-term care that helps people manage enduring health issues. Across the UK, parish nurses are embedded in their communities, responding to local needs. Lena works with people affected by dementia; Abigail focuses on the health of asylum seekers. Betty and Julie support people with mental health issues, while Anna is a trusted presence in her Cornish village, promoting health in collaboration with the local GP team.

This is place-based neighbourhood nursing, rooted in faith and led by experienced professionals.

Yet if you’ve never heard of parish nursing, you’re not alone! As Parish Nursing Ministries UK (PNMUK) celebrates twenty years, we’re raising awareness of this quiet but powerful movement—and the difference it’s making.

Parish nursing is faith-based care led by Registered Nurses working from churches and Christian charities. Open to people of all faiths and none, parish nursing draws on the Church’s long tradition of compassionate care, focusing on holistic, person-centred support. Parish nurses promote health, spot problems early, advocate for clients, and journey alongside individuals and communities—often those least served by mainstream services.

PNMUK is the UK’s only provider of the Certificate in Parish Nursing, which equips RNs with what is needed to deliver this work. We also guide churches and charities in setting up services with the right governance and offer ongoing support through professional supervision, continuing development, and an accreditation process.

Once in place, the real impact begins. Services are shaped by local need. That’s why parish nurse Debbie in North Tyneside works at the quayside, supporting the fishing community. She understands the risks of mental health issues offshore, the challenges of booking appointments from a trawler, and the long-term physical effects of life at sea. Debbie and her team respond flexibly, offering screening, referrals, and practical support that address deep-rooted health inequalities.

This is the heart of parish nursing: autonomous, holistic nursing with a neighbourhood focus.

We also recognise the emotional demands of the role. Self-care is built into the parish nursing model—not only to sustain the work for the next twenty years, but also to model healthy boundaries and wellbeing for those we serve.

As we celebrate this milestone, we honour the quiet, life-changing work happening in communities across the UK. Whether in city centres or rural markets, coastal towns or suburban churches, parish nurses are transforming lives through presence, expertise, and compassion