A Living Tradition: Penitentiary Chaplaincy

Notes: In this book, the author "himself a former chaplain and associate director of Chaplaincy for the Correctional Services of Canada, provides a sympathetic study of the historical role of the chaplaincy in the Canadian prison systems from the early nineteenth century to the 1980s. As he explains in his preface, James wishes to let the early chaplains 'tell their own story' and he relies heavily on the printed annual reports of the chaplains from 1837 to 1916 and on wardens' reports in subsequent years" (p. 58-59). "However, while the strengths of this most interesting work lie in the linkages between the historical traditions of the development of prisons and the role of chaplains in prisons, the weaknesses are embedded in the central strength, the use of the historical voice" (p. 59).

Subjects: Prison chaplains - Canada - Book reviews; Prisoners - Canada - Religious life - Book reviews; Church work with prisoners - Canada - History - Book reviews; Criminal justice, Administration of - Canada - Religious aspects - Christianity - Book reviews