A team of Anna Chaplains have been commissioned at St Andrew's Church in, Wiveliscombe. Anna Chaplaincy is a way of supporting older people emotionally and spiritually. They are named after the widow, Anna, who appears with Simeon in Luke’s gospel; both are good role models of faithful older people.
Juliet Gosling-Brown, Adam Green and Angela Valuks are the new Anna Chaplaincy team in Wiveliscombe. Juliet, Adam and Angela will be present with people, offering spiritual care, in Care Homes and across the community. Hazel Ramsey, an established Anna Chaplain who has continued to listen, care and pray throughout lockdown, will continue to support the new Anna Chaplaincy team, but slightly more from the background.
Hazel wrote of her first visit back into one of the Care Homes after Covid: “An unexpected ray of hope touched me when we returned to our local Care Home on June 10th 2021 to recommence visits and Communion Services. After donning the scary disguise of full PPE and taking the mandatory Covid Tests, we were bowled over by the instant recognition and warmth of welcome from the residents and staff. They had kept the faith, clung to hope and prayed for us.
“Fears that we might be barely remembered and concerns of the long-term impacts of lockdown soon dissipated. Our congregation had survived Covid, even the 105 year old! As we chatted over coffee, I was humbled and inspired by their quiet courage, patience and wisdom. We shared joy and gratitude.”
Mike Haslam, the Chaplaincy Adviser, who was part of the commissioning service spoke of his joy at another expression of chaplaincy growing across Somerset and reaching into new communities
Revd Martin Walker, Rector of Wivey and the Hills said: “The ministry of our Benefice to the elderly, their carers and their families has been re-invigorated almost beyond recognition thanks to the visionary leadership of Debbie Thrower, who, under the auspices of the Bible Reading Fellowship, has been assembling since 2010 a national team of ministry enablers whose support and inspiration has encouraged us in Wiveliscombe to take Christ's ministry of care and compassion into our neighbourhood and homes. We hope that many more Deaneries and parishes will catch that vision and begin to introduce it in their neighbourhoods.”
If you are interested in exploring Anna Chaplaincy please email Mike Haslam or go visit the Anna Chaplaincy Offering spiritual care in later life website.