We are excited to recruit the next Anna Chaplain for Alton.
Please see this background and afterwards the advert.
Background to the post of Anna Chaplaincy in Alton
Under the banner of the Greater Alton Project, GAP, the Anglican Parish of the Resurrection, signed a Covenant in 2009 with Alton Methodist Church to collaborate more closely in various areas of ministry. Working together, they recognised that more should be done for older people and therefore the Greater Alton Project appointed Debbie Thrower as the first such chaplain in January 2010.
In January 2014, we formed a link with Bible Reading Fellowship, BRF. Debbie remained a licensed lay minister in Alton while also leading the Anna Chaplaincy team at BRF. Since then, the Anna Chaplaincy has grown dramatically throughout The United Kingdom with a network of chaplains, friends, training and support materials. Yet Alton is the ‘home’ of the network and where the ministry’s first seed was planted, watered and grown. The vision of this BRF ministry is: “to promote standards of excellence in spiritual care for older people, and to see the pastoral needs of older people given much greater recognition nationally and locally.”
The name “Anna” was chosen for its echoes of the widow of that name in St Luke’s gospel who appears with Simeon – both of them role models of faithful older people who believed God’s promises. The Anna title resonates with the fact that much of the work is with those who have suffered various losses, bereavement and loneliness.
Anna Chaplaincy seeks to accompany older people at this age and stage of their lives. It is an ecumenical, community-based, chaplaincy promoting the spiritual welfare of older people. Anna Chaplaincy is a person-centred and non-judgemental ministry for people of strong, little or no faith at all.
Such a focus on spiritual care may express itself in helping people to reflect on their life’s journey – both the joys and the sorrows – and, where appropriate, enabling the healing of memories and the celebration of life experiences to foster more hope and resilience.
An Anna Chaplain also has a wider role within the community as an advocate and a champion of the contribution older people make to society. They may enable cross-generational encounters in the church and wider community for the benefit of people of all ages.
Spiritual support provided in a gentle and loving way brings comfort and succour to people who may be at a low point in their lives. It enables older people to live with greater meaning and purpose. Finding some peace in their later years, they may be better prepared to face the end of their earthly lives.
Anna Chaplancy involves visiting older people wherever they may be living, whether in residential and nursing homes, sheltered housing, retirement complexes or other private homes. The emphasis is on spiritual support but, clearly, people’s emotional and practical struggles will also play a part in their overall well-being. It has become apparent that many older people feel socially isolated and are trying to find community and relationship and many opportunities exist now to broaden the scope of this work. A feature of the work locally has been its links with many of the clubs in Alton where older people gather and offering practical support and encouragement to enable those who may be more isolated to attend.
The increasing development of housing for older people in the Alton area, alongside the increasing number of community activities and the success of previous postholders in developing strong links within these, means that we have a good team of volunteers and friends who minister alongside the paid chaplain. The successful applicant will therefore be able to build, lead and develop a team of volunteers to support them in this ministry. Part of the role will also be to promote this ministry to potential supporters and advocates. There is an expectation that the Anna Chaplain will keep up to date with current research and literature relevant to the post and use this to contribute to the training of others.
The role is funded by charitable giving and in order to be successful in our applications it is vital that the work of the Anna Chaplain and friends maintains a high profile within the churches, local community and in the wider media. Articles for press and local magazines will be expected as a part of the role.
Our Alton Anna Chaplains have all brought different skills and gifts to the role and our current chaplain is moving onto a new exciting chaplaincy opportunity. The GAP Ministry teams are excited to be recruiting another Anna Chaplain under the banner of the Greater Alton Project to continue the excellent work of the chaplains who have developed this ministry over the last 15 years. There will always be new challenges, new opportunities and new ways of working and we look forward to seeing this work develop both locally and in tandem with the work nationally. There are now more than 400 Anna Chaplains and similar ministries nationally forming a mutually supportive network supported by BRF who offer training and resources.
To gain a fuller picture of the variety of work Anna Chaplains are undertaking please see www.annachaplaincy,org.uk,the Alton Methodist Church website www.altonmethodist.org.uk and the Parish of the Resurrection website www.potr-alton.co.uk
Anna Chaplain to Older People Job advertisement
The Greater Alton Project – Anglicans and Methodists journeying together (GAP) – invites applications for the part-time post (20 hours per week) of Anna Chaplain to Older People.
Salary: In the range £14 – £17 per hour (@ 20 hours per week = £14560 – £17689 annual)
The Anna Chaplaincy is an ecumenical post promoting the spiritual and emotional welfare of older people, including those living in residential care homes and sheltered housing complexes, and offering support to their relatives and carers.
The Anna Chaplain reaches out to all, whether of Christian faith, other faith or none and a feature of the work has been in developing links with many of the clubs in Alton where older people gather. However, an important part of the work has also been the development of services of worship adapted to meet the range of needs of those who would wish to participate.
The increasing development of housing for older people in the Alton area, and the success of previous postholders in developing strong links within the community, has led to a realization of the need to train and enable volunteers to support this work. The successful applicant will therefore be able to build, lead and develop a team of volunteers to support them in this ministry.
The successful applicant would become part of a growing national network of such Anna chaplains within Bible Reading Fellowship, who can provide training.
To gain a fuller picture of the variety of work Anna Chaplains are undertaking please see www.annachaplaincy,org.uk, the Alton Methodist Church website www.altonmethodist.org.uk and the Parish of the Resurrection website www.potr-alton.co.uk
It is an occupational requirement for the person appointed to be a professing and practicing Christian, lay or ordained, in a church affiliated to the Council of Churches in England and Wales.
(Equality Act 2010.)
There is the possibility that further hours and remuneration may be available in future for pastoral care across our churches.
Enhanced DBS and references will be required.
Closing Date for applications Wednesday 22nd January 2025 5.30pm
For further information and an application pack please contact:
Mrs Liz George: altonmethodist@hotmail.com or Tel: 07703 648935