Catriona Foster retires - but bows out with a flourish

Pastor for Older People, Catriona Foster

St John’s Church, Harborne near Birmingham said a bitter-sweet farewell to Catriona Foster as she retired on June 5. 

Catriona had been the Pastor for Older People for 18 years and has grown a vibrant ministry within the church itself and the wider community, care homes and retirement living complexes. 

She initiated a small midweek service for older people which flourished into a service now attended by 90 people each week. 

Her leadership, spiritual insight and pastoral care have been greatly valued by all. She will be sadly missed but the foundations she has established and the large team she has gathered and equipped will enable the ministry to continue and to grow. As the decorations on her cake made abundantly clear - 'Thank you Catriona.' 

Catriona was one of the earliest members of the Anna Chaplaincy network.

Debbie Thrower paid this tribute:

'When we held our first gathering in Surrey in 2015 Catriona was at the forefront explaining how she was developing her ministry among men and women post-retirement. She will be greatly missed but her legacy is tremendously valuable.

She has been a consummate professional in everything she tackles whether it was describing how she runs Holidays at Home to detailing how to deliver sensitive end-of-life care. Her warmth and heartfelt compassion for others has been clear for all to see.'

St John's Harborne has begun the search for her successor as we reported last month. https://www.annachaplaincy.org.uk/post/harborne-hunts-for-a-new-pastor-for-older-people Interviews will be held in July.

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