Anna Chaplaincy

A ministry for older people

In 2023 GK Church commissioned Sonja Drew to be our first Anna Chaplain. 

Named after the faithful widow Anna, who appears with Simeon in Chapter 2 of Luke’s gospel, Anna Chaplaincy is a community-based network that supports older people and their carers.

Anna Chaplaincy is an ecumenical chaplaincy promoting the spiritual welfare of older people. It is a person-centred and non-judgemental ministry for people of strong, little or no faith at all.

Such a spiritual focus may express itself in helping people to reflect upon their life’s journey – both the joys and the challenges – and, where appropriate, enable the healing of memories and the celebration of life-experiences so as to foster hope and resilience. Spiritual support can also enable older people to live more peacefully in their later years and be better prepared to face the end of their earthly life.

In Sonja’s case, her main ministry is intended to complement and run alongside, rather than replicating or replacing, other ministry already being done by GKChurch. Anna Chaplaincy is a blend of advocacy and pastoral work in partnership with others.

You will find Sonja, for example, supporting people who use the Community Cupboard, visitors to the Community Lunch, and serving and chatting with people at the village Lunch Club. She also provides one-to-one support where needed.

Anna Chaplaincy includes visiting older people wherever they are living, whether in residential and nursing homes, sheltered housing, retirement complexes or in private homes. The emphasis is on spiritual support but, clearly, people’s practical struggles will also play a part in their overall wellbeing.

Sonja says, “Anna Chaplaincy is, at its heart, a ‘ministry of presence’. It’s all about person-centred spiritual care and relationship. Chaplaincy is about going to where the need is and drawing alongside people. It’s more than befriending, it’s taking God’s love out to people where they are”.

It is an enormous privilege to be allowed to listen to and share some of another person’s story. Sonja’s work will be to promote the spiritual welfare of older people in the wider Goudhurst community, particularly those facing challenges of living independently.

If you would like to meet with Sonja to have a cup of tea and a chat, please contact her on 07810 832862 or sonja.drew@gkchurch.org.