As well as the necessary business of an AGM we focussed on one of CoA’s core objectives – celebrating the gifts and potential of later life – and helping churches and others to develop activities which contribute to facilitating older people’s spiritual growth.

Our keynote speaker was Revd Dr Chris Swift, recently appointed as Director of the Leeds Church Institute, and previously Director of Chaplaincy and Spirituality at Methodist Homes (MHA).

Click on the image below to read his presentation.

After lunch, we looked at three examples of good practice in church activities that can ‘accompany ageing’:

• Helen McCormack, Pastoral & Development Worker for Older People North Yorkshire URC, on The Gift of Time.
• Dr Joanna Walker, CoA Trustee and previously researcher on older people’s spiritual development on Accompanying the later life transition of retirement.
• Dr Katherine Froggatt, Anna Chaplaincy Coordinator Diocese of Blackburn on Anna Chaplaincy: Embedding Spiritual Care in your Community.