12 people have been commissioned as ‘Anna Chaplains’ at a special service at Holy Apostles’ Church, Cheltenham, specialising in spiritual support for older people. The men and women have completed an introductory course and are now ready to take their places as part of the Cheltenham and Bishop’s Cleeve Anna Chaplaincy team or CaBiC.
The national Anna Chaplaincy ministry lead, Debbie Ducille, came out to commission them for their new role. Anna Chaplains are named after the widow, Anna, in Luke’s Gospel, who was one of the first people to recognise Jesus as the Son of God, when he was brought to the temple as a baby.
CaBiC is an interdenominational charity founded in 2019, as the result of an initiative by Revd Brian Dunlop, to develop Anna Chaplaincy in Cheltenham and Bishop’s Cleeve.
Gill Ford, who worships at Holy Apostles, Cheltenham, led the introduction course and has been working as CaBiC Coordinator for the last three years. Her introduction into ministry to older people began when her mum became unwell and Gill volunteered as an Age UK befriender.
She said, “My mum was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and my father was frail. They lived miles away from me and it was while I was trying to support them, at a distance, that I saw that their world was shrinking and there seemed to be little support available locally. I decided that, when I could, I wanted to be involved in helping make older people feel valued.
“Anna Chaplaincy is about finding the gaps where spiritual support is lacking and stepping in to be that support – some care homes offer good spiritual support, but this is not always the case. For me, Anna Chaplaincy was something I was drawn to and was excited to take on the role of coordinator to help develop this vital ministry in Cheltenham and Bishop’s Cleeve.”
Anna Chaplains and Anna Friends visit local care homes offering weekly face-to-face services, send out weekly written services and offer Messy Vintage (think Messy Church for older people, using craft, familiar hymns and a simple story as an alternative to a more traditional worship service). Other volunteers help to run a ‘knit and natter’ session in a local care home, and others lead Messy Vintage sessions in the community.
CaBiC has also organised Easter and Christmas craft projects where volunteers across the wider community have knitted little gifts for residents (and sometimes also staff), such as knitted crosses, baskets and chicks for Easter, as well as angels and mini stockings at Christmas.
Gill says, “As the craft projects have brought in more and more volunteers, people have wanted to find out more about Anna Chaplaincy and the work we do.
“Anna Chaplaincy is, at its heart, a ‘ministry of presence’. It’s all about person-centred spiritual care and relationship. While church can sometimes be about ‘come to us’, chaplaincy, for me, is about going to where the need is and drawing alongside people. It’s more than befriending, it’s taking God’s love out to people where they are.”
The Anna Chaplains and Anna Friends were commissioned during a Sunday morning service at Holy Apostles.
“It was lovely to be able to share this event with the wider worshipping community, so that others could hear about Anna Chaplaincy and the work that CaBiC is involved with.
“Not only is chaplaincy a ministry to others, it is also personally rewarding and many of the volunteers tell us that they are really enjoying being enabled to provide this ministry to others and have found, in it, a new sense of fulfilment.”
If you are interested in finding out more, please visit: Home (cabic.co.uk)
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having recently completed a research project as part of a masters degree, I am very interested in seeing God’s work among older people helping them (further) into a living relationship with The Almighty, Who, historically has a special relationship with older people.
Biblically God often waited until His worshippers became really elderly before using them in specific ways.
God has not given up on older people today: a matter that needs greater recognition in our churches today.
a. am happy to share my paper
b. am interested in Anna Chaplaincy
an invitation to make contact.
God bless your valuable work.
Good morning Jean I read your post with interest ,I would appreciate a copy of your recent paper.
In friendship Sandie Foster
I was deeply touched and blessed by the ministry of the Anna chaplaincy earlier this year as I was in Respite care after discharge from hospital following treatment after my stroke in September 2022. I greatly valued the celebration of Holy Communion and the opportunity for corporate prayer with other residents and some of the carers. I was struck by the careful, gracious engagement by the chaplaincy with the care provider which made it straightforward to share Christ’s love together