'What is old age for? - we report on this month's course at Sarum
- debbiethrower0
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
On Thursday October 2 Sarum College in Salisbury hosted a short course entitled 'What is Old Age For?' (What is Old Age For? - Sarum College) The day was co-facilitated by Sarum principal, the Revd Canon Professor James Woodward, and BRF Ministries’ lead for Anna Chaplaincy training and development, Julia Burton-Jones. James and Julia have been working on ideas around ageing for many years and reflected on their research and writing in this field.
The day was attended by 25 participants who brought a variety of perspectives. Some held roles in chaplaincy and pastoral care, others were there to think about their own ageing. Anna Chaplaincy lead for Portsmouth Diocese, Emma Sneddon, and members of the Anna Chaplaincy team from Kingsworthy in Hampshire – Helen, Marion and Lis – were also present.
James was director of the Leveson Centre for the Study of Ageing, Spirituality and Social Policy between 1998 and 2009. His writings helped shape Debbie Thrower’s ministry in pioneering Anna Chaplaincy in Alton in Hampshire. His book Valuing Age (Valuing Age - James Woodward - SPCK Publishing) is essential reading for Anna Chaplains in training.
James has written a new title on generativity in old age which will be published soon, and he spoke of the liminal (or ‘thin’) spaces in life which can be times of growth, creativity and hope, and so ultimately generative. Old age is filled with these liminal spaces. He drew from the ideas of Dan McAdams, Peter Coleman and Joan Chittister in exploring what a generative old age might look like. James also considered the writings of May Sarton and atheist Diana Athill, talking about their own old age.
In her other role as Anna Chaplaincy lead for Kent, Julia prepared for the course by working with Rochester Diocese Anna Friend Dorie Wishart who, at 88, was recently commissioned for a further two years in role.
Julia shared Dorie’s reflections both on her own old age and her ministry alongside older people in the care home where she supports the regular Anna Chaplaincy visits. The daughter of a Church of Scotland Minister, Dorie spent her working life as an ophthalmologist but now struggles herself with macular degeneration. A combination of other long-term health conditions means that she lives with vastly reduced energy and chooses carefully how to channel this limited capacity.
Dorie speaks of the life-experiences she shares with the care home residents she visits, many of whom are younger and fitter than she is. She has been on a mission recently to buy used copies of John Baillie’s Diary of Private Prayer; published in 1936, she senses its style and content resonates with people of her age-group and has donated copies to the care home for staff to read to residents.
Other themes from Dorie’s reflections included: the importance of playfulness and humour; the need to feel useful still and to continue providing comfort and encouragement to others as long as she is able; the risk of ‘faith petering out’ in later life; the experience of grief and loss; the sense of identity linked with place (her church, home and community being fundamental to her wellbeing).
Julia drew from three BRF Ministries books on ageing in enlarging on Dorie’s thoughts:
George Lings’ Living the Autumn of Life, published in 2024
Wanda Nash’s Come, Let Us Age, published in 2017
Donald and Harriet Mowat’s The Freedom of Years, published in 2018
Julia said afterwards, ‘This was a deeply reflective day where participants willingly shared their thoughts and experiences. There is much rich material from which to draw in exploring our hopes for later life, and it was helpful to do this collectively in the safe and nurturing space Sarum provides.'
'It was a privilege to bring Dorie’s voice into the room and see how her honest conclusions about purpose in her own later years brought to life the realities of living as a Christian in advanced old age. It was also wonderful working with James who is a much-valued friend and supporter in our ministry’.
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