Reflections on an 'extraordinary' year of being an Anna Chaplain

Sue Ambrose is an Anna Chaplain in Bedfordshire and she has been looking back over her first year in this ministry:

'On February 23rd, 2025, I was commissioned as an Anna Chaplain at St Andrew’s Church, Bedford, by the Revd Canon Lucy Davis. It was the start of an extraordinary year.

My journey to becoming an Anna Chaplain started as we came out of Covid, when I realised that several of my church family had not returned, either through ill health, lack of mobility or simply just getting out of the habit. I felt we needed to take church to them.

My visits included an amazing lady, who despite living with dementia and having limited mobility could have won Mastermind – her chosen subject being M&S knickers! She was an ex-churchwarden and had an immense faith. She saw or got something from our time together that I was unaware of.'

'Despite her declining health she encouraged me to explore Chaplaincy and I could never leave her without giving her a list of people to pray for – people who, sometimes, were her friends but whom she no longer remembered. Providing her with a prayer list gave her value and purpose.'

'Roll forward a few years and my vicar, Lucy, supported and encouraged me to start training to be an Anna Chaplain. Thank goodness I listened to her. My first year has been filled with laughter and tears, end-of-life services, twinkly smiles, squeezed hands, purple glittery donkeys, shepherds with sunglasses, chaotic services at care homes, listening to amazing life-stories and even praying for Liverpool to win!

Psalm 71 has become my favourite psalm:

“Do not cast me away when I am old;   

 do not forsake me when my strength is gone.”

“Even when I am old and grey,    

do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,

your mighty acts to all who are to come.”

I use this Psalm to emphasise to those I visit that they are still loved, that they are closer to God because of their vast and varied experiences and that they can still fulfil the most important task of all - to pray for others. Their years ahead might be getting shorter, their days might feel longer, yet they are still valued, important and loved.'

---