Anna Chaplains old and new highlighted in news of fresh partnership

Alton Anna Chaplain Emily Spencer with Bishop Rhiannon King, Bishop of Southampton beneath Helios, an art installation by Luke Jerram

Here's how Winchester Diocese has publicised their new partnership with BRF Ministries' Anna Chaplaincy:

https://winchester.anglican.org/cathedral-service-celebrates-care-for-older-people-across-the-diocese/

Frances Attwood was the first Anna Chaplain commissioned under the new agreement. She said, 'It was very special to meet with other Anna Chaplains who serve within the Diocese, and to discover how many there are of us!

'I was greatly encouraged by Bishop Rhiannon’s sermon, showing that she not only understands the importance of ministry to older people, but also that she is so much behind us. It is indeed fitting that Winchester Diocese, having given birth to Anna Chaplaincy, takes on this as one of its priorities.'

Among a number of other Anna Chaplains attending a cathedral service in celebration of the move was Helen Bradish. She was one of the first Anna Chaplains and was commissioned in 2017 at St Mary’s Church in Kings Worthy. she said:

'It was a lovely occasion to honour the work of Anna Chaplains. Now the diocese has this licence, they can encourage people to become Anna Chaplains and use Anna Chaplaincy as an effective model for supporting older people in the community of the church and beyond.'

'In the Worthys, our focus in our Tuesdays Place meeting which welcomes around 50 to 60 people each month who come for fun activities and support and we visit them in their homes and in the local care homes. The number that come shows you how important it is to people in the community, and they keep coming because it’s such a life-giving environment and fun and it combats isolation and loneliness which is so detrimental to people’s health.'

Tuesdays Place Christmas Party (Photo credit: Worthy Churches)

And the Revd Karen West from Tadley, near Basingstoke, added, 'It was fantastic to be able to bring a group of eight Anna Chaplains and Anna Friends from across the churches in Tadley to Winchester Cathedral and hear Bishop Rhiannon be so enthusiastic about the importance of ministry to older people, that while there are some things that are challenging about older age, it is still a time when people can continue to meet with God.

She spoke about how the role of Anna Chaplains and Friends is to make sure older people know that they can still encounter God and they are still hugely valued. '

'We all came away from the service feeling really encouraged and affirmed!'

Helios can be seen at Winchester Cathedral until March 1

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