Debbie Ducille and the BRF film crew (Adrian Serecut and Ben Bloxham) spent a fantastic two days in mid-July working with one of our newest Anna Chaplaincy teams in Whitefield, near Bury in Greater Manchester. The Anna Chaplains – Fran Lawson, Rev Steph Mawhinney and Sue Orrell – the team of Anna Friends, St Andrew’s Hillock minister Revd Donna Williams and local residents all made the team very welcome, accommodating the demands of a filming schedule with grace and a smile. It was a joy to be present for the commissioning of two new Anna Friends, Maureen Hunter and Joe Walk, and to see what a difference Anna Chaplaincy is already making on the estate and in local care home ministry.
Debbie says:
‘I came away from Whitefield full of gratitude and really inspired by this wonderful team. These women and men are key – offering time, energy, prayer and compassion to those around them who may have felt unseen and unloved. Equally encouraging is to witness three local churches working so well together in partnership. We are really thankful for the shared commitment and vision expressed by the leadership and the wider team in this venture.’
Watch out for the new Anna Chaplaincy film featuring this team and another in Kent, launching (hopefully!) at our online Annual Gathering on Wednesday 12 October. Don’t forget to book your tickets!