Spreading news of Anna Chaplaincy in Surrey
Guildford Diocese Pastoral Visitors Conference 3 October 2026
BRF Ministries were invited to contribute two workshops on Anna Chaplaincy at the Guildford Diocese conference for Lay Pastoral Visitors held at Christ Church, Woking, on October 3.
As training and development lead for Anna Chaplaincy at BRF, Julia Burton-Jones gave an overview, identifying parishes in the diocese which have Anna Chaplains and inviting those present to consider how establishing an Anna Chaplaincy might complement and augment their pastoral ministry. Jean Leston, Anna Chaplain at Stephen’s, Shottermill, then spoke about her ministry, including several wonderful stories of individuals she had supported.
‘Just this week, I was talking to a lovely lady at the bereavement café where I volunteer each month. She is quite lonely since her husband died and enjoys coming regularly. I asked her to tell me a bit about herself and it turns out she used to travel the world as an air stewardess, in the days when this was a very glamorous occupation. When I told her that this is what every teenage girl dreamed of doing when I was growing up in California, she seemed so pleased and said: “It’s been a long time since anyone asked me what I used to do.” Making older people feel valued—and not overlooked—listening to their life stories is such an important aspect of Anna Chaplaincy!
‘One of the ladies I see regularly at a local Christian care home rarely leaves her room or has visitors, yet she has an incredibly strong faith and loves nothing better than to praise the Lord. She sees this as the purpose that God has given her in her final years. So, when we’re together, that’s what we do—we praise Him by looking at Scripture or praying together. Last time we focused on Ephesians 1:4 which states that “God chose believers in Christ before the foundation of the world”. How praiseworthy is that! So being an Anna Chaplain sometimes means helping to support and strengthen the faith of older Christians.
‘At the monthly lunch and social club for seniors which I help to run, called Welcome Wednesdays, we recently held a ‘games from yesteryear’ session where I wrapped up different old fashioned toys and then had people open them to see if they could remember how to play them, getting others to help them if they couldn’t.'
'Can you remember how to make a cat’s cradle or play jacks or marbles? Well, they certainly could! It was wonderful to see everyone having so much fun and sharing their stories of childhood. One person said it was “just like having a party”. So, bringing older people in the community together to have fun and make friends—to break down isolation and loneliness—is another important way to serve as an Anna Chaplain.’
'Jean also spoke about a Christian minister she was asked to visit who, in his dementia was very distressed and agitated and experiencing hallucinations. Nothing seemed to calm him, until she suggested they pray together. A remarkable peace descended on him, and he prayed the most eloquent, heartfelt prayers.'
'On another occasion, when visiting a local care home, staff urgently requested she spend time with a resident who was dying; her daughter had asked staff for a Christian presence for her mum. This lady was seemingly unresponsive until her daughter suggested they sing her father’s favourite hymn – 'Michael, row your boat ashore' – upon which the lady’s foot was seen to move to the rhythm of the song under the bedclothes.'
In both sessions at the Guildford Diocese event, Jean and Julia were asked questions about how Anna Chaplaincy differs from pastoral visiting and they were able to explain the distinctive role of Anna Chaplains who, like Jean, are often also in pastoral teams.
Other speakers at the event included Anna Poulson who is principal of the newly formed St Martha’s College in the diocese (St Martha’s College - Home) which supports those exploring a calling to ministry and provides training for lay and ordained ministers. Anna spoke about how Christ is found through an embodied presence; as he took on flesh and blood, we in pastoral ministry learn to ‘be with’ those we serve, rather than simply ‘working for’ or ‘working with them’. We see the face of Jesus in the people we come alongside, rather than viewing ourselves as the one with the skills, and resources, there to solve problems. Through reorientating, so we listen and hold the person, we discover in them God’s gift to us.
Chris Elliot and Jennifer Hyde from Southwark Against Modern Slavery shared a compelling message about those trafficked and exploited in our society, including staff in care homes and domiciliary care settings struggling with ever-increasing fees and costs they cannot repay to those who sponsored them in coming to the UK (Southwark Against Modern Slavery – In the UK in 2023, there were over 122 thousand men, women, and children trapped in modern slavery.)
2026 has been a difficult year for Guildford Diocese following the death of the Right Revd Andrew Watson, the Bishop of Guildford. Next month, in November 2026, BRF will publish posthumously Bishop Andrew’s The Way of the Desert: Daily Bible readings through Lent to Easter (The Way of the Desert: Daily Bible readings through Lent to Easter – BRF Resources). The Right Revd Paul Davies, Bishop of Dorking, is serving as the Acting Bishop of Guildford during the Vacancy in See, and spoke encouragingly to open the conference, reflecting on the lasting impact of pastoral ministry on the lives of individuals.
It was a day to celebrate and renew commitment to pastoral care. Ruth Cornish, the Lead Tutor for the Pastoral Visitors’ Course at St Martha’s College, led a service of reaffirmation to close the day. The diocese has trained 40 new Lay Pastoral Visitors in 2026, a great encouragement to everyone at the conference. Anna and Ruth from St Martha’s, and Director of Mission Mat Ineson, will continue to work with BRF in encouraging parishes to explore Anna Chaplaincy.
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