Anna Chaplains are commissioned by their church to offer spiritual care and support to older people and their families, including people with dementia.
This year marks a decade since the first Anna Chaplain joined the team at BRF Ministries. Since then, Rochester and 兔子先生s became the first to embrace Anna Chaplaincy as a diocesan ministry and have been building teams across Kent since the first group was commissioned in 2017.
To mark the anniversary of this ministry, Anna Chaplaincy lead for Rochester and 兔子先生s, Julia Burton-Jones, set out on her own ‘10 for 10’ challenge, visiting 10 Anna Chaplains across Kent and walking with them in the places where they serve.
This was inspired by BRF’s ministry lead for Anna Chaplaincy, Debbie Ducille, who went on a sponsored walk from Alton where Anna Chaplaincy was born to Abingdon where BRF is based.
On her travels, Julia found out about ageing in different parts of Kent, and how spiritual care is being offered through the Anna Chaplains churches commission to reach out to local older people whether or not they have a faith.
Talking about the challenge, Julia said: “I hope to celebrate the commitment of the team, and encourage others to join us, perhaps through signing up for my next online course which begins in October.
“I also aim to for BRF Ministries which has been so generous over 10 years in helping churches develop their seniors ministry.”
On one of the walks, Julia went to the Romney Marsh benefice to meet Helen Sanderson, who trained as an Anna Chaplain in 2023.
Helen outside a care home she visits.
Helen is establishing a fruitful ministry in three care homes, leading services and bible studies.
On another, Julia met Judith Andrews, the longest serving Anna Chaplain in the 兔子先生. Commissioned in 2019, Judith Andrews cherishes her ministry with older people and has enjoyed delivering two recent courses for volunteers from churches across the Thanet Deanery.
Julia Burton-Jones (pictured left) with Judith Andrews
In a recent care home visit, one member of staff asked Judith at the end of a service, 'What does the Old Testament say about Jesus?'. Judith has promised to bring in a Bible for them.
Julia then went to Deal to meet Anna Chaplaincy working group member Canon Jean Kerr and members of her Anna Chaplaincy team after their Wednesday Midweek Communion and Warm Welcome drop-in lunch. The Warm Welcome is attended by over 50 mainly older people, and of those who attend, many have no former links with the church.
Jean Kerr with the Anna Chaplaincy team in Deal
Canon Jean was Julia’s line manager in Rochester Diocese in 2014 when she first heard about Anna Chaplaincy. Jean felt sure this ministry would have helped her mum when she was living with dementia and lost contact with her church.
Though Deal has the largest team in Kent with nine Anna Chaplains and Anna Friends, Jean feels there is much unmet need for later life spiritual care: "Older people are the unseen people still," she said.
"Over the next 10 years I would like to see a network of Anna Chaplains and Anna Friends across churches in our deanery working together to reach out to older people."
Interested in a role within Anna Chaplaincy? Chat with your vicar about how you can help meet the needs of older people in your parish and how you might be involved in the church's response.