A warm welcome to newly commissioned Anna Chaplain Fiona Pearl in Cambridge, as she was recently licensed as an licensed lay minister (LLM) and commissioned as an Anna Chaplain in her parish church, St Andrew’s Impington. Fiona explains a little of her journey to this point in ministry:
I arrived in Impington two years ago, having been an LLM in Sussex prior to our move to Cambridge. In my former parish I was given the funeral ministry during a year’s vacancy without an incumbent, and I found this a very rewarding ministry, which may sound like an odd thing to say but it was a tremendous privilege to walk alongside relatives of those whose funeral I was preparing and listen to the stories of their lives.
When I moved to Impington I felt called to develop a pastoral ministry, particularly among older people and at first, I became involved in a bereavement support group. This experience gave me the opportunity to listen to people’s individual situations and I realised the value of being there just to listen.
When my licence as an LLM was transferred to Ely Diocese I was interested to learn about Anna Chaplaincy which was being encouraged in the diocese and keen to find out more about it. After some preliminary Zoom discussions with my incumbent and the director of mission and ministry it was agreed that I should pursue this calling and I joined a nationwide informative Zoom meeting with Debbie Ducille and others who were interested in finding out more about what was involved in becoming an Anna Chaplain.
I followed this by a six-week online training course with an inspirational trainer, joining with others from all over the UK to learn more about Anna Chaplaincy. The Zoom sessions were accompanied by reading the very helpful Anna Chaplaincy Handbook which I had purchased and to which I frequently refer.
I was already helping with taking part in monthly ‘church’ services as an LLM, together with another LLM, at the two care homes and one retirement complex in our parishes and taking home communion to people no longer physically able to get to church, so I felt my calling as an Anna Chaplain was an extension of what I was already doing. However, becoming an Anna Chaplain has enabled me to introduce myself as being available for individual visits, which may be welcomed by older people, particularly those newly transferred to care homes, who may feel isolated and disorientated.
I was commissioned on 21 July 2024 in our parish church in Impington, Cambridge during our usual Sunday service and I was able to tell the congregation about Anna Chaplaincy, which many had never heard of before. I am passionate about giving time to older people individually; there are many group activities organised in the parish but there is a need for individuals to be heard, valued and encouraged to face the trials of later life with hope rather than a feeling of loss and despair. With the help of God, I now hope to be able to fulfil my calling as an Anna Chaplain.
Debbie adds:
‘It’s so encouraging to see local networks growing, with a wealth of experience of all kinds being offered in service among those in later life. May God bless your ongoing ministry of compassion and accompaniment, Fiona’.
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