Anna Chaplaincy has received support from a Victorian institution looking afresh at how it builds on its historic work with orphans to embrace the needs of today's impoverished pensioners.
George Müller cared for ten thousand orphaned children in Bristol during the Victorian era. Now the charity which bears his name has moved back into the former orphanage he once occupied at Ashley Down and opened a museum telling his remarkable story.
Müller was a man of great faith, never making appeals for money, but simply praying to God for all that was needed. During his lifetime he received £1,500,000 in money and gifts in kind. At present-day prices, this would be over £100 million!
Müllers hosted a second day of Anna Chaplaincy training in how to offer spiritual care on 5 February – a follow-up to one Jill Phipps and I led on 13 November 2019 – when we unpacked the Anna Chaplaincy approach and gave people tools to begin their own Messy Vintage (Messy Church for older people). We're delighted to hear that Keynsham (between Bristol and Bath) is now starting its own Messy Vintage as a result.
A maximum crowd of 30 attended the day, provided free by Müllers. Participants came from as far afield as Northern Ireland, Exeter and rural Somerset as well as the city precincts to take part in the day. Trustee, Derek Powell, was delighted by the way it all went. He wrote to thank us, saying, 'I heard a lot of very favourable comments from the attendees about the whole occasion. Personally, I thought it was excellent.'
Trustees and the charity's new charity leader, Joel Preston, are discussing seniors work. Müllers is actively growing a network of local Müller Partnerships, reaching out to needy children, families and seniors in their local communities. We look forward to collaborating again with Müllers as they discern the way forward, and to working with their partnership churches as interest in Anna Chaplaincy grows locally.
To find out more of George Müller's story, from his birth in Prussia in 1805 to his death in Bristol in 1898, when much of the city was brought to a standstill because the crowds paying their respects were so dense, click here.
The museum is open Monday to Friday from 10.00 am–4.00 pm. If you would like to guarantee the presence of a museum guide during your visit, book by calling 0117 924 5001 or email admin@mullers.org. Booking for groups of ten or more is essential. Otherwise, you are free to turn up any time during opening hours. Please note, though, that the museum is not open on weekends, public or bank holidays.
