Rachel: “I am blessed with so much and am called to give back”

Rachel Tarling has a dual vocation, to Reader ministry and to paid work as an Orthogeriatric Associate Specialist at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, where she cares for elderly patients.

She has been a Christian since childhood, and went to Christian camps from a young age. Rachel’s faith grew stronger during her teenage years, eventually leading her to work as a medical missionary in Tanzania alongside her husband. From 1993 to 2008, she worked in Tanzania for the Anglican Church, where faith was deeply integrated into her medical practice.

“In Tanzania, faith is discussed often. I was expected to pray with patients and be openly Christian,” she recalled.

Returning to the UK, Rachel continued her medical career within the NHS, specialising in geriatrics, a field she entered by chance but found a natural fit. As an orthogeriatric specialist, she cares for elderly patients, often working closely with families to determine the best treatment options.

She said: “There are occasions where I can pray with patients, with their permission, or direct them to the chaplains. A lot of my faith is expressed through how I behave, making time for people, valuing every member of the team. I’m not different from anybody I work with in that sense, but it helps a lot to be able to listen and be interested in people.”

Rachel’s work also raises questions around faith, particularly when dealing with end-of-life decisions. She explained: “I often think about whether God heals people, or how it fits with my faith when we decide to stop treatment. I have to believe that God guides us and helps us understand what’s in the best interest of the patient.”

As a Reader, Rachel helps to lead services, preach, and guide others in understanding scripture. She said: “I love reading the Bible, and helping people see how the Old Testament informs a better understanding of who Jesus was, and how everything fits together.”

While some have suggested she consider ordination, Rachel feels content in her current roles: “I think communion and baptising would be great, but I’m comfortable where I am. I’d be sad to leave medicine.

“I have wanted to be a doctor since I was very young, and I was lucky enough to be able to be a doctor. I had a dream of going out to the missionary field, and I was privileged to do so. I have always felt that I am blessed with so much, and I feel called to give something back.”