In 2016 Churches Together in Cumbria began a project to make every church in the county dementia-friendly by 2020.
What is a Dementia-friendly church?
- A church that is welcoming and inclusive towards people with dementia and their carers
- A church where the church leadership and other members of the congregation help people with dementia to feel safe and orientated within the church environment
- A church where it is OK to get confused and forget things
- A church where people with dementia and their carers feel that they are valued members of the congregation, stay involved in church activity, and do not ‘fall off the radar’ even if they can no longer attend services
- A church where the challenges of living with dementia can be openly and honestly faced and talked about.
The aim was to have a Dementia Enabler in every church or group of churches in Cumbria. Dementia Enablers help their church review and improve the way in which it responds to the needs of people living with dementia and those who care for them. Thought is given to the way in which it welcomes and includes them, to the way in which services are led, and to ensuring that the environment is one in which people can be at ease and feel safe.
The Dementia Enablers in Barrow organise a monthly Tea Service, which is held on the second Monday of each month in Holy Family Roman Catholic Church hall at 2 pm. A Tea Service is a short, simple, interdenominational act of worship, followed by biscuits, cake, tea, coffee and fellowship. It is open to anyone, but is particularly suitable for people who find full length services difficult to deal with, and their carers.
The organising team consists of members of the Methodist, URC and Anglican churches, and speakers for the services have included people from those traditions and also the Salvation Army and Baptist church. The children from Holy Family school often make small gifts for those attending, based on the theme of the service. A number of volunteers from various churches provide help by baking cakes, welcoming people and talking to them over tea.
The venture receives strong support from Barrow Mission Community and Churches Together in Barrow.
For more information contact:
Sue Millard, tel 827095, sjmisme@yahoo.co.uk or
Lilian Wood, tel 825986, lilian.wood4@gmail.com
The Dementia-friendly church project is coming to an end, but its work will continue under the banner of Anna Chaplaincy, an ecumenical, community-based chaplaincy promoting the spiritual welfare of older people. An Anna Chaplaincy Lead for Cumbria will take up post on 1 October 2020.
