Dorset Anna Chaplain begins her ministry in Blandford Forum

debbiethrower0
5 hours ago
1 min read

Debby Griffiths with the Revd Chris Beaumont, Lead Minister, at her commissioning

We are delighted that Debby Griffiths has been commissioned as an Anna Chaplain this month - on Sunday January 4. 'What a great start to the new year!' she said:

'I am a Licensed Lay Minister at Blandford Forum Parish Church in the Diocese of Salisbury and in 2024 we decided upon new values for our Church. One was for the 'elderly and vulnerable'.

We have been going into the four Nursing Homes in Blandford offering extended communion and helping with various activities. This has been very rewarding as well as helpful to the nursing homes.'

At the same time someone suggested I look at Anna Chaplaincy and it looked so interesting that I completed the course and the rest, as they say, is history!

'What a privilege to chat to different people and to learn so much about their lives and, in some cases, to marvel at their life experiences.'

'I consider it an honour that they talk to me as they look back into their pasts and I am also saddened as they come to the end of their lives that, in some cases, Jesus is not in their history. However, my role is just to be there and let them know how God and the local church care for each one of them.'

Debby completed the Anna Chaplaincy online training course during 2025.