Here at All Saints Church, we have a team that consists of the clergy, ministers and volunteer lay pastoral assistants who have been authorised by the Rector and the PCC after undergoing a diocesan accredited training course. The team is actively involved in pastoral care needs across the parish, offers a co-ordinated response to pastoral matters and works closely with other care groups supported by All Saints. Parishioners may go directly to any member of the team to seek support and prayer; or alternatively, they may contact the clergy or the team coordinator.
Contact may be made in the following ways:
In person: any member of the team may be approached in person when in church.
By phone: Parish Office 0118 979 2797; Revd Canon David Hodgson 0118 9792999; Revd Colin James 0118 9781515
or via our contact page
More details about our pastoral care team
Our pastoral care team comprises lay pastoral assistants, parish clergy and other authorised ministers working together as a united group to offer a coordinated response to pastoral needs in the parish.
Parishioners may go directly to any member of the team to seek support and prayer.
The pastoral care team is a focus of care enabling us to be a caring congregation and to express our mission to embody God’s love for everyone.
The pastoral care team is available to all the congregations which meet as part of All Saints Church on Sundays and during the week; and to any church member or parish resident.
It works with all the other care groups supported by All Saints: baptism care; bereavement care; emergency food bank provision, healing team; home communion and visiting team; house groups and other fellowship groups; marriage preparation; residential care homes ministry; children’s and youth groups; and all the activity-based groups which share a caring concern for their members.
Lay pastoral assistants are volunteers actively involved in pastoral care across the parish, authorised by the Rector and PCC and trained within the parish on a diocesan accredited course.
What is the role of the pastoral care team?
Some definitions of pastoral care include:
“walking alongside those in need”
“being mirrors of Christ’s love”
“a messy mixture of momentary meetings”!
The pastoral care team is here to:
– be a listening ear
– respect confidentiality
– be a contact point for needs or concerns
– visit parishioners at home or in hospital
– offer a prayerful ministry
– work as a supportive team
– support the work of pastoral care groups and other small groups in the parish
Some examples
A lay pastoral assistant could:
– listen or pray discreetly with you in church if needed before or after a service
– visit you, or a family member, in hospital or at home on behalf of the church
– signpost you to appropriate resources or other advisors for particular difficulties.