How becoming an Anna Chaplain just 'felt right'
A warm welcome to new Anna Chaplain Ann Newman commissioned at St Matthew's Church in Eye, in the Peterborough Diocese, on September 13.
Ann describes her journey up to this point:
'A couple of years ago, I met up with two Lay Ministry colleagues at different times, and both briefly mentioned Anna Chaplaincy. Then, last September 2025, it happened again, two more conversations, talking about support for older people, with the result that I went along to two different ‘Hope Groups’ with the view that with our Vicar’s permission we could begin our own group in the new year.
Our ‘Hope Group’ has flourished. Starting with six people, we now average eight to twelve people each month. It is for those who have experienced any kind of loss, and they appreciate a safe space to come and share with each other. One particular lady, who was fairly recently bereaved, comes faithfully each month and has really come out of her shell. We’ve discovered that poetry can be really helpful, particularly the writings of Donna Ashworth.
At the same time as this was getting up and running, I had a couple of conversations with Liz Kelly, who I’ve known since 2008, when we started our training as Lay Pastoral Ministers together, which resulted in me taking the Anna Chaplaincy course earlier this year. In addition to running the ‘Hope Group,’ I visit our local care home regularly and take Home Communions to parishioners who can no longer get to church, so becoming an Anna Chaplain felt right.
I had the privilege of being commissioned as an Anna Chaplain by our Vicar Revd Hayley Hobbs on 13th September during our Holy Communion Service. Liz, the Diocesan Co-ordinator, was there to support me and she spoke about the importance of spiritual care and the work of Anna Chaplains during the sermon slot.
It was a very special time for me, to re-dedicate my life to the care of others. Hopefully, it may encourage more people to follow my example and explore Anna Chaplaincy for themselves. It is such an important ministry as there is a real need for people to be listened to and heard. It is only when we listen, that we realise how difficult life is for some people, especially if they are physically disadvantaged by hearing loss and loss of vision. Trying to locate social workers is a nightmare if you cannot see or hear, and so often, older people appear to be forgotten.
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