Anna Chaplaincy is a specialist ministry alongside the Authorised Pastoral Assistants scheme. The name Anna Chaplain was chosen to recall Anna, the widow and faithful older person in Luke’s gospel who, together with Simeon, recognised the baby Jesus as the Messiah and the fulfilment of God’s promises.
It is increasingly recognised that older people thrive when their spiritual well-being is cared for alongside their physical, mental and social needs. Anna Chaplaincy has a clear focus on older people and people living with dementia, and it provides further training to equip people to minister within their communities.
Anna Chaplains offer one-to-one spiritual and pastoral care whenever and wherever needed to the elderly and those on the dementia pathway – taking hymns, prayer and Holy Communion into people’s own homes and into residential care homes. There are coffee mornings and lunches and Forget Me Not cafes and special church services for those on the dementia pathway and their carers. Many also offer end of life ministry. One parish runs an annual holiday club for older people – a week of fellowship, coach trips to the seaside and places of interest, ending with a Songs of Praise and Thanksgiving service. This year 40 local residents attended and they are now looking forward to the 2026 event, as for many it is the only holiday they manage. The Anna Chaplaincy team help to make sure that all those attending are well looked after and that they make lots of happy memories.
If you feel called to this ministry and would like to find out more, then please get in touch with the Authorised Pastoral Assistants/ Anna Chaplaincy co-ordinator who will direct you to further information and arrange for you to have a conversation with an Anna Chaplain within the diocese.
Anna Chaplaincy Stories
Bus Pass Holiday Club at Yare Valley Churches
Written by Gaye Hailstone, Anna Chaplain in the Diocese of Norwich And Wow – what a week we have all had – 46 people took part in this event that Anna Chaplaincy has led for the last five years, and this year was probably the best ever. We went to
Anna Chaplaincy offering spiritual care to the elderly and those on the dementia pathway
Thank you to Gaye Hailstone, an Anna Chaplain in the Diocese of Norwich, for writing this update for us. ‘Doesn’t God work in mysterious ways? I have spent many sleepless nights and waking hours thinking how I might bring some peace and support to the old folk I have grown to
Advent and Christmas joy spread by Anna Chaplaincy team
“At Yare Valley Churches during the journey through Advent, we have shared a season of waiting and longing for Christmas,” writes Anna Chaplain, Gaye Hailstone. Members of our church, together with Dave our rector, supported the Anna Chaplaincy team by joining us as we went into each of the residential
Anna Chaplains lead Coronation celebrations across the Diocese
The Coronation of King Charles III is just what we all needed to celebrate together. As Anna Chaplains we knew this was the perfect time for rejoicing with our old folk living in residential care and those who attend our Forget Me Not cafes. Here is just a taste of
A full day of events for Anna Chaplains and inquirers in Norfolk and Waveney
At the beginning of February the Bishop of Lynn, the Rt Revd Bishop Jane Steen commissioned seven new Anna Chaplains and two Anna Friends at a service in Norwich Cathedral. Anna Chaplains offer spiritual support to older people who are living in care homes and sheltered housing complexes, their relatives
Archbishop acknowledges those still lonely in a new message for free phone line
In the message, he acknowledges those who continue to be lonely even after the end of pandemic restrictions. The DailyHOPE telephone line was launched in April 2020 as a response by the Church of England, Faith in Later Life and Connections at Holy Trinity Church in Claygate to support older
Anna Chaplaincy ministry grows in Norfolk and Waveney
Anna Chaplaincy is a national Church of England ministry for supporting older people emotionally and spiritually. Anna Chaplains are named after the widow, Anna, who appears with Simeon in Luke’s gospel; both are good role models of faithful older people. The vision is to see an Anna Chaplain in every
New Anna Chaplains commissioned at Norwich Cathedral
For each of the individuals, the service represented a significant point in their journey of discernment and discovery as they have each responded to God’s call on their lives. Anna Chaplaincy is firmly rooted within a local area, each Anna Chaplain working closely with the leadership team of the local