Jane Wingrove shares her journey to becoming an Anna Chaplain
During the first Lockdown, I was a churchwarden, parish assistant and spiritual director in the diocese of york. The most striking effect on me was the realisation that many of our older members were left isolated and fearful. A group of us responded by pounding the streets and having the most amazing conversations at garden gates! What a discovery… a wealth of wisdom that had been locked away! So we started a newsletter so that these amazing people would have a voice!
Just before the second lockdown, I moved to Cornwall and through the wonders of Zoom joined Holy Trinity Church in St Austell. And here, many faces were missing! After a chance conversation, I found out about Anna Chaplaincy and it caught my attention! So I completed the course two years ago and began a new ministry. I became pastoral lead for the older members and with a small team have engaged with our older friends. We have an over-65 group, called Inspire (the name was chosen by our younger members at an intergenerational lunch!) The team have undertaken training in end-of-life care and supporting the bereaved which helps us when we go to the care homes and the hospice.
I feel blessed to be involved in this ministry and pray that I can continue to serve for the five years that my licence affords!
My commissioning as an Anna Chaplain was on Wednesday 8 April in Holy Trinity Church, St Austell. Bishop Hugh of St Germans led the service together with the rural dean, Paul Zaphiriou, who read the Anna Chaplaincy prayer.
I was invited to share my journey into this ministry and it really was a lovely service.
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