High Leigh 2025 - the 'Gathering' has happened!

debbiethrower0
4 hours ago
2 min read

'We hope everyone is safely home', writes Debbie Thrower, 'after what was another wonderful time together this week in Hertfordshire for the Anna Chaplaincy network annual Gathering!'

'It was very special to meet people from right across the UK getting together for our two-day residential event.'

This year's theme of 'Gold' was mined thoroughly, as guest speaker Helen Watts remarked (citing Tom Wright): 'It's really good to wring out a metaphor for all it's worth'! Helen, from the Association of Chaplaincy in General Practice, has worked as a Chaplain for Wellbeing in Primary Healthcare since 2016. Her talk was entitled 'Panning for Gold- Sifting for treasure in others and in ourselves'.

Debbie T will report in more detail on that talk and other key elements of the Gathering in a series of blogs to come.

Helen Watts preparing to address the Gathering

There were golden goodie bags for all participants which included: a golden gel pen, packets of golden mustard seeds, a Gold Bar (chocolate, we're sorry to say, rather than a genuine ingot!), a new book by Bristol-based Anna Chaplain Anne-Louise Critchlow, Slowing Down - Finding beauty in the slow lanes of life, Instant Apostle 2025, as well as another book of collected prayers published by the Diocese of Lichfield, well-known for their pioneering work on behalf of people living with dementia (www.lichfield.anglican.org/dementia-frierndly-church ), plus a BRF blank-paged notebook for use when journaling, postcards, lots of useful information leaflets etc.

As well as residential guests, we were also delighted to welcome some extra day-visitors who joined us from the nearest local Anna Chaplaincy team, in St Albans, on the second day.

Listening to the team from Ely, Cambridgeshire sharing their best tips for resources and some 'golden' moments from their ministry

Network members had come from Aberdeen and the Borders, Wales and the West Country - 'and from everywhere in between,' as Debbie D put it. Richard ~Fisher the Chief Executive of BRF Ministries also jo9ned us yesterday for the finale.

Watch the blog pages in coming days for more pictures and stories of exactly what took place and for the wide range of experiences and wisdom shared among participants.

Huge thanks to the Anna Chaplaincy BRF team, that's Debbie Ducille Julia Burton-Jones, Marian Muskett and Jane Butcher who had worked so hard to prepare a memorable stay.