Supporters battled through the wind, rain and floods to attend Caroline Culley’s commissioning as an Anna Chaplain on Sunday, November 24, in Ludlow, Shropshire.
“So why do you want to be an Anna Chaplain?”, Caroline was asked during the service.
'For me it has been a long, slow burn! I first heard about Anna Chaplaincy about 10 years ago when it was first being established and thought it sounded like exactly the sort of thing that I would like to do. I spent a day shadowing Debbie Thrower in Alton, Hampshire, and was really inspired. But God called me to train as a Reader first and then to move to Ludlow before it could finally come to fruition.'
'I love working with older people and feel passionately that older people should be respected and valued both in the community and in the church and that they should have the same opportunity to explore their spirituality as everyone else. Becoming an Anna Chaplain means that I will be able to better provide opportunities for this to happen.'
'I meet people in care homes who have been faithful Christians their whole lives, either in our congregations or in other churches, of all denominations but who are no longer able to come to church services in person. They are just as much loved by God, though they may be frail or have dementia and deserve the opportunities to worship and pray and express their spiritual feelings at the final stage of their lives.'
'I also meet people who maybe used to go to church as a child and who welcome the opportunity to revisit their faith and explore their beliefs. And also those of no faith deserve a chance to think about what is really important to them in their current lives and explore their beliefs and values.'
Debbie Ducille, Anna Chaplaincy Ministry Lead, was pleased to be able to attend Caroline’s commissioning service on Sunday and to lend her support as she begins her ministry as an Anna Chaplain in Ludlow.
Meanwhile, Debbie Thrower adds: ' I can't tell you how pleased I am to see Caroline make this commitment. I remember that day very well when she came to shadow me in Alton all those years ago. A seed was planted, and it is thrilling to see the way things have come together in God's good time. I wish Caroline every success and profound fulfilment in her ministry.'
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