A joyful launch service for the Anna Chaplaincy in Blackburn Diocese (The Church of England in Lancashire) was held at St Andrews Church in Longton on Sunday.

People gathered from across Lancashire to hear Debbie Ducille, Ministry Lead for Anna Chaplaincy nationally, speak at the service of her delight that Blackburn Diocese is joining the initiative.

Meanwhile, Katherine Froggat, an Authorised Lay Minister, was commissioned as the Coordinator for Anna Chaplaincy in this Diocese by Rev. Anne Beverley, our new Diocesan Director of Ministry.

Anna Chaplaincy, founded by broadcaster Debbie Thrower, is a person-centred ministry of spiritual care for older people; allowing them to continue to contribute to society and know that they matter and are not ignored. Anna Chaplains have spiritual conversations about successful ageing and end of life care. Essentially it’s a ministry of accompaniment and journeying with people.

Since its foundation in 2014 there are now more than 300 trained Anna Chaplains nationally.

Debbie Ducille said: “God’s spirit is at work in the ministry of Anna Chaplaincy, in the people who serve this ministry and in older people across this Diocese. We hope continually to the end of our days, and all of life can bring blessing, joy, pain, struggle, anxiety, worship, praise and lament. More and more people are living longer, in what is often an ageist society, resulting in a loss of self worth. Knowing who you are as an older person is so important, and Anna Chaplaincy is all about spiritual accompaniment in our lives – with the privilege of walking alongside those who wrestle with these issues, whoever they may be. I am excited to see Anna Chaplaincy launching across Blackburn Diocese.”

Rt Rev. Dr Jill Duff, Anglican Bishop of Lancaster, added: “I am delighted that Blackburn Diocese is joining this initiative and look forward to many Anna Chaplains being trained and commissioned to work in our parishes and local communities.

“Blackburn Diocese recognises that the spiritual and accompaniment needs of our older generation are really important and this is one way of helping to meet these needs.”

For more information on Anna Chaplaincy, go to this page of the Blackburn Diocese website.

Captions for the above pictures, top to bottom:
Pictures by Sara Cuff for Blackburn Diocese

• Pic 1: Anna Chaplaincy logo
• Pic 2: Debbie Ducille, Anna Chaplaincy Lead, BRF
• Pic 3: Revd Canon Anne Beverley, Director of Ministry, commissioning Dr Katherine Froggatt, Anna Chaplaincy co-ordinator
• Pic 4: Anna Chaplaincy launch celebration
• Pic 5: Blackburn Diocese Anna Chaplains Dr Sheila Fisher, Joan Doerich and Dawn Bradbury