Workshops in Worcester

Anna Chaplaincy ministry lead Debbie Ducille was on the road last week, offering workshops at the Winchester Diocese clergy conference at High Leigh conference centre, which was a really positive experience. ‘There was a great deal of life and openness around the conference,’ Debbie reflected, ‘and I very much enjoyed networking there, with the help of Revd Erica Roberts of Caraway (also offering a workshop about ‘Out of the Box’ storytelling) and Revd Andrew Micklefield, priest in Alton and a much-valued champion of Anna Chaplaincy.’ 

Later in the week, Debbie joined BRF Ministries colleagues Jane Butcher and Jane Butler in Worcester Cathedral as part of the Cathedrals Plus annual conference, entitled ‘Working Together: Sustainable Partnerships’. Debbie shared a vision for engaging with older people in the life of a cathedral, suggesting that many visitors might be drawn to these ancient places of worship for many reasons, both emotional, religious and spiritual. Debbie and Jane (a Messy Church colleague) later participated in a speakers’ panel, alongside representative members of Cathedrals Plus (pictured). Later that day, copies of Easy Guides and Messy Vintage flew off the bookstall!

We rejoice that the Anna Chaplaincy network includes several Anna Chaplains who are part of worshipping communities in Bangor, Rochester and Wells cathedral, and look forward to seeing many more such appointments across Anglican and Roman Catholic cathedrals, as places where older people of strong, little or no faith might gather.

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