Do you know older people in the community who could do with a friend or who are in need of ministry? Is this something you feel called to? If so, Anna Chaplaincy might be for you.
This week is World Wellbeing Week. We’re shining a light on a quiet, caring ministry that may not be so well-known, and that supports not only the older members of our community, but their carers, both paid and voluntary, as well. It's called Anna Chaplaincy and it equips churches to pastorally and spiritually support their older church members, people who can no longer come to church on their own, or people in care homes and sheltered housing in the parish. Importantly, in this time of strain on the social care system, Anna Chaplaincy also supports the wellbeing of relatives and staff who care for older people.
The name Anna Chaplaincy comes from the faithful older woman, Anna, who appears with Simeon in Luke’s Gospel. The ministry was started about 12 years ago by former television newsreader Debbie Thrower.
We have two Anna Chaplains in the diocese, Diane Bates in the West Hereford Team and Jane Peeler in the Bridgnorth and Morville Team, who work alongside many others supporting older people. Diane recently told us about her work in Abbeydore Deanery, where she runs “Come Gather Round” at Dulas Court Care Home and a “Tea Service” at a chapel in a group of almshouses in Hereford: “You don’t need to be ordained to be an Anna Chaplain,” says Diane, “you can be a Lay Reader, for instance, like Jane and I. Or you can become an Anna Friend, working alongside an Anna Chaplain. It helps to be a good talker and a good listener. Many people are already doing this work, but Anna Chaplaincy provides structure and guidance, through a training course, and a rich, learning community. The first step is to talk to your local priest or reach out to the Ministry team at the diocese. Or contact Anna Chaplaincy directly to find out more about it. A lot of the work is about celebrating life, what people can still do and enjoy, even with dementia, but we also run a bereavement group at Hereford Cathedral, it’s part of the territory.”
If you would like more information about Anna Chaplaincy, please visit the chaplaincy page here.
ENDS