Lindsay de Wal
Humanist Chaplain, Author & Director of Existential Care
Dr Lindsay de Wal is an accredited humanist chaplain, humanist celebrant, trained counsellor and humanistic coach, renowned for her pioneering work in inclusive pastoral care. As the first humanist appointed Head of Chaplaincy in the UK, her appointment made national and international headlines, marking a significant milestone in recognising non-religious pastoral support within healthcare.
Lindsay holds a PhD in Psychology from Middlesex University, where her research focused on the lived experiences of non-religious chaplains working within faith-based healthcare chaplaincy teams.
Her leadership roles include Head of Spiritual and Pastoral Care at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Network Manager for the Non-Religious Pastoral Support Network with Humanists UK. She is now European Operational Director for Existential Care and the author of Humanist Chaplaincy in Practice (Routledge, 2026), the first global textbook on humanist chaplaincy. She is passionate about fostering relational safety and person-centred care.
35. Lindsay de Wal on Redefining Chaplaincy & the Rise of non-religious Pastoral Care in the NHS
When Dr Lindsay de Wal became the first non-religious head of chaplaincy in the NHS, she redefined what spiritual support can look like in modern healthcare. From sceptical colleagues to international media headlines, her appointment marked a turning point for inclusive pastoral care. In this personal conversation, Lindsay shares how she built a humanist framework for care grounded in deep listening, horizontal transcendence and unwavering compassion.