First Anna Chaplain for Desborough, Northamptonshire
A warm welcome to the first Anna Chaplain for Desborough in the Peterborough Diocese.
Last Sunday, September 20, Cath Smith was commissioned in Desborough, a small town in Northamptonshire, in the Diocese of Peterborough.
Cath writes the day after her commissioning: 'I’m a Lay Pastoral Minister at St. Giles Church in Desborough. The commissioning service was very moving. St. Giles is a joint Anglican and Methodist church, and the service was led by one of our Methodist ministers, the Revd Andy Murphy. Our curate, the Revd Madeleine Morris, preached the sermon about Anna Chaplaincy, and our Rector, the Revd Hannah Jeffery, commissioned me. Our diocesan co-ordinator for Anna Chaplaincy, Liz Kelly, was there too, to support and encourage me.
It was through Liz Kelly that I took this step. Liz was present when I trained as a Lay Pastoral Minister back in 2011, so we’ve known each other a long time! Even back then God was leading me towards caring for the older generation, as I chose for my project to set up a service in church for those with Dementia, which we called “Remember This”.
Since then, as a Lay Pastoral Minister (LPM), I have been ministering to those older members of our church family and community in Desborough and surrounding villages, by visiting and taking services in our local care homes; visiting people at home and in hospital; taking Home Communion to those unable to get to church; being present at end of life and taking funerals for those I have got to know over the years in the care homes, and supporting staff and relatives.
'I was worried about not having time to take on anything else, but as Liz told me, “You are already doing the ministry of an Anna Chaplain!” The training was really helpful, and I learnt a lot, especially from the other people on our online course. I wasn’t alone in this ministry.
I believe that God has been guiding me on my ministry journey to caring for our older generation in our church and community - small steps at a time over many years. This year St. Giles has committed to becoming a more intergenerational church, and so with our lovely children’s, youth and other ministries, I will be there for our older members.'
As Revd Madeleine reminded us in her sermon:
'We live in a culture that tends to celebrate youth, and in which families often live at a distance, without the daily presence of extended family – including grandparents. In that context, an Anna Chaplain has a vital role as champion and advocate for older people, and as someone who actively builds intergenerational connection where it might otherwise be lost.'
Cath adds: 'I look forward to carrying on this journey as an Anna Chaplain, especially with the help and support of other Anna Chaplains and the support and resources from BRF. I’m looking forward to my first Zoom workshop this afternoon, and the annual gathering in October.'
'I’m rapidly becoming one of the “older generation” myself, but believe that God has more for me yet.'
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