21 May 2025
“Churches have a valuable part to play in the community, with the support of Anna Chaplaincy UK, we are equipped and empowered to spiritually support and care for people living with dementia and their carers”, says Maggie Dodd, St Albans Anna Chaplaincy lead.
A report in 2024, commissioned by the Alzheimer’s Society, shows that around a million people in the UK have a form of dementia, with the majority developing the disease in later life. Churches offer a valuable support network to people who live with dementia and their carers, often providing weekly hospitality sessions, like community cafés and craft groups, and sometimes tailored sessions like memory cafés or dementia-friendly worship.
St Albans Anna Chaplaincy was created over four years ago by the city’s two Methodist Churches. Investing in the country’s first full-time, salaried Anna Chaplain, they recognised the need to structure their support to people in later life. They now have a group of three Anna Chaplains who spiritually support older people in both care homes and private homes.
The team of Chaplains leads care home worship, often for people living with dementia. They use visual aids, well-loved hymns, and prayers to engage and enrich their time together. They regularly offer ‘Messy Vintage’ services, which have proved very popular.
Maggie explains, “Messy Vintage provides a fun-filled space for creativity, connection and worship. Participants explore the worship service’s theme through a craft activity. There’s time made for conversation, and volunteers can engage with the group as they create and chat together. Tea and cake, hymns and prayers are shared, and friendships are made, it’s a special time, which lifts everyone’s mood.”
Dementia research has shown regular social interaction helps with resilience against the effects of Alzheimer's disease. Alongside Messy Vintage, another part of St Albans Anna Chaplaincy’s ministry includes a weekly ‘chance to chat’ space at the local Morrisons supermarket café.
A rota of volunteers chat to anyone who wants to stop for a coffee and a catch-up. Running for over a year, it’s a friendly-caring presence in a busy secular space and has proved a blessing to many regular attendees.
Anna Chaplaincy is a nationwide model of chaplaincy seeking 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.
For over a decade Anna Chaplaincy, supported by BRF ministries – home of Anna Chaplaincy, Living Faith, Messy Church and Parenting for Faith – has offered a model of chaplaincy, tailored to older people, which helps churches equip their members to better support people in later life. Anna Chaplaincy seeks to be present out in the community, offering care and support, a listening ear and a welcoming presence.