Update from Anna Chaplains: May 19
Kathy Hyde and Marion Hitchins are the Anna chaplains serving the East side of the city of Southampton.
Anna Chaplains: May 19
Here are some of the things they have achieved in the past year:
Classic Cuppa was set up in May 2019, and has been popular with at least 30 people attending every week. It is on a Monday morning, when it’s nice to have something to go to after the weekend, when many may have seen no one.
The volunteers who help at Classic Cuppa were annoyed when a rota for helpers was suggested…”We want to come every week, we don’t want a rota!” they said.
In a classic style, tea, coffee and cakes are served and games and activities are available. Knitting with a purpose is popular, making hats for sailors, and hats and other winter wear for the homeless. They even made a patchwork blanket for use in children’s’ events. Every month now, they offer lunch and there will be a short talk about a topic or aspect of life and faith.
Another aspect of their work is developing a relationship with Buttercup House, its staff and residents. As well as a service monthly, a Messy Vintage session will happen on alternate months.
Each Anna Chaplain has their gifts to use.
Kathy’s is to develop seeing people one to one who request to see a chaplain. She has started to doing this with a mentor ( her vicar) to help.
Kathy and her husband Tim are both from the Church Army, and are working on a big project to take over the pavilion on Veracity Park in Sholing. They plan to have a drop in memory cafe there and many other opportunities for community regeneration.
Marion is a bit of a catalyst who has been encouraging other churches to have community based events for older people. She supports but doesn’t run the “C3” group in Weston, that is “Coffee, Cake and Chat”. at Holy Trinity church, Weston. Also, Monty’s Majors is for older people at the Monte’s Hub. and there is a group on a Saturday Morning and lunch monthly at Thornhill Church.
Marion leads the services and in future messy Vintage sessions in Buttercup House, a care home in Woolston.
Well done, Marion and Kathy, and everyone who helped them! Anna Chaplains: May 19
We love it!
You can stay up to date or find more information by:
- Email: caraway@caraway.uk.com
- Phone: 07535164014
- caraway.uk.com