Cumbria conference draws a crowd from home and abroad

It's been a busy weekend in Cumbria - with a conference and two commissionings! Anna Chaplaincy Lead in Cumbria, Katherine Froggatt explains:

'On Saturday September 18, 2021, Churches Together in Cumbria held an Anna Chaplaincy and Dementia conference. This on-line conference hosted 60 participants from around the globe with participation from people in Cumbria, across the UK and overseas. Attendees from further afield in the USA, Canada and Australia either got up very early or stayed up very late to join us.

We were privileged to hear insights on the conference title 'Breathing in Hope: Stories of Change’ from Keith Albans, offering a helpfully challenging perspective on ageing for ourselves and those we minister with. Keith drew on his extensive theological knowledge and practical experience as a minister and work with MHA care homes.

Complementing this, we heard stories from the ground of ways we can make a difference to people experiencing loneliness from Terry Peate at Cockermouth Linking Lives, and support for people living with dementia through music and companionship from Jeanette Main at Lyrics and Lunch.

In the afternoon Kathryn Lord from OutoftheBox training enabled us to experience a way to tell stories that enables people to explore their own stories... as they engage with the stories others have told.

Much food for thought from these speakers about the different ways we can come alongside older people in our Anna Chaplaincy ministry.'

Margaret Tate (Anna Chaplain) in the centre with Katherine Froggatt (Anna Chaplaincy Lead in Cumbria) and the Revd Lucie Lunn, (Priest in Charge of Aldingham Dendron Rampside and Urswick with Bardsea)

'Meanwhile, the next day, Sunday September 19, 2021, saw two Commissioning services taking place at opposite ends of the county. Margaret Tate was Commissioned as an Anna Chaplain in Low Furness, and Wendy Wilson (Anna Chaplain ) and Cindy Butterworth (Anna Friend ) in the East of Eden mission community in the north east of the county. Margaret introduced herself to us in February and it was a privilege, as we come out of lockdown, to affirm her ongoing ministry alongside older people in the local community.'

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