What an 'amazing day'! - the Anna Chaplaincy Gathering 2026
We'll have more on this anon... but just to report that it was a terrific day together at our online Gathering of the Anna Chaplaincy network. Participants joined us from Wales, Devon, Shropshire, Lancashire, Norfolk, East Yorkshire, Berkshire, Worcestershire, Hampshire, Somerset, the Midlands... and many points in between.
Top billing at the conference, with the theme: 'Drawing on God's deep wells ' was writer and broadcaster Brian Draper. A regular contributor to BBC Radio 4's Thought for the Day, Brian lives near Winchester and mentioned the well at Hampshire National Trust property, Mottisfont Abbey- well known as the home of a nationally significant rose collection. Mottisfont's name is derived from the old words Moot for Meet and Font for Well.
'People often march past the well to get to the roses in the walled garden,' he said, 'not realising what they are missing!'
Brian gave a masterly reflection on ways we can sustain healthy ministry and retain confidence in God through challenging times quoting poets and other writers and drawing our attention to the glories of the natural world in autumn.
Other gifted speakers included the Revd Dr Gillian Straine, CEO of Go Health (formerly the Guild of Health of St Raphael) and Dr Ros Simpson of the Southampton-based charity, Caraway
There were also opportunities to hear about latest developments in Anna Chaplaincy and the some brand new BRF-published resources. A choice of workshops included topics such as Self care when offering end-of-life ministry, Taking care of the carers, Support structures for chaplains, and ways to Develop prayer ministry and prayer partners.
The benefits of Creative Journaling were also graphically described with plenty of colourful and examples combining words and images thanks to a workshop from enthusiastic contributor, Isobel.
As ever at these Gatherings, BRF Ministries CEO Richard Fisher attended throughout the day. Referring to his decision to take early retirement on health grounds his words towards the end of the day drew handsome tributes for his extraordinary leadership over nearly four decades.
Home to other ministries like Messy Church, BRF took on the concept of Anna Chaplaincy in 2014, when there was just a single Anna Chaplain. Now the network is more than 510 strong, plus dozens more Anna Friends.
Ministry Lead Debbie Ducille led the thanks to Richard with more tributes from Anna Chaplaincy Pioneer Debbie Thrower. Network Chaplain (and former coordinator) Alex Burn also recalled what a great debt of gratitude is owed to Richard for the way he has shaped the movement in recent years. The day ended with prayer.
Fittingly Richard gave all the delegates a final blessing, using words from St Paul's Letter to the Ephesians:
'For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on the earth is named. I pray that according to the wealth of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner person, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, because you have been rooted and grounded in love, you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.'
Ephesians 3: 14-21
From the glowing comments received in the Zoom Chat section saying the event had been 'wonderful', 'amazing' and 'inspirational'... everyone had enjoyed the day enormously and was indeed going home 'refreshed'.
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