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Anna Café Church is a godsend for the elderly
FOR those who feel unable to attend Sunday worship, this café acts as their ‘church’.
The monthly Anna Café, which meets in the church hall at St James, Emsworth, offers the elderly a half-hour act of worship, followed by lunch. And for so many of them, it is a godsend.
It has been running for around 18 months, organised by the curate the Rev Lizzie Davidson and the parish’s five Anna Chaplains and four Anna Friends. Anna Chaplaincy is our spiritual ministry to the elderly, which often involves chaplains offering spiritual support to those who are housebound or in care homes.
The Anna Café involves dozens of elderly people in Emsworth meeting for a half-hour act of worship, which includes hymns, prayers and a short talk. There’s also a ‘personal blessing’ which involves the chaplains holding the hands of each individual and praying for them personally, with appropriate permission. They then share lunch together.
It has become so popular that a second Anna Café is just about to launch within the village. This will be based at the Pastoral Centre, within Emsworth Methodist Church, and will also be monthly.
June Seffen, aged 84, has been to the Anna Café in St James each month since it began. She has appreciated the chance to meet others since she was widowed.
“I’m not a regular churchgoer, but I really like things like this,” she said. “I do like the blessing part of it, as it’s good to have that touch and eye contact. It’s harder to get to see people when you’ve been widowed, but I see various people here. As far as I’m concerned, this is my church.”
And Rosamond Williams, aged 95, said: “I’ve been in Emsworth for 65 years and had always been to church here. I used to do the flowers at Warblington Church. I stopped going to St James as the service was too early for me and I couldn’t guarantee to be there. It’s easier to get to the café at lunchtime.”
The Anna Café service includes large-print versions of the liturgy, as well as help following the service. Volunteers lead the music and cook the lunch, and the Bible-based talk is designed to appeal to those of a certain age.
Sue Ingram was one of the original Anna Chaplains in place when the café started. She’s been an Anna Chaplain for two years and also visits five care homes each month.
“The Anna Café attracts people who might find it difficult to stand for worship in church, or for whom lunchtime is a better time,” she said. “People see it as their ‘church’, and we often see people who haven’t been in Sunday worship for a while.
“I love seeing people come together to worship, and meeting each other in a supportive, worshipping environment. We offer them soup and bread for lunch and they often stay and chat for quite a while.
“And when we visit care homes, we are taking God’s presence with us. Anna Chaplaincy is a spiritual ministry, and it is to staff as well as residents. It’s rewarding, but it can also be challenging, especially supporting those with dementia. But I hope we take God’s presence as we pray for them and sing hymns with them.”
And Dennis Chandler, who has been an Anna Chaplain for six years, said: “I enjoy getting alongside people and proclaiming the gospel at the Anna Café.
“The physical contact and eye contact we give in the individual blessing can be vital for those who might not see family or friends often. It actually means just as much to us as it does to them. It turns it from corporate to individual worship.
“We do visit people at home, and we can also pick up the phone and speak to someone who wants to chat. Whatever we do, we bring ‘church’ with us."