09/06/2026
Have you seen the Anna Café Church Article in the latest Portsmouth Diocesan Magazine. Here is a sample of the article and reasons why Anna Café Church could be for you or for someone you know.
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. 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. The next meeting is on Monday 22nd June at 12:30pm
It has become so popular that a second Anna Café is about to launch within the village. This will be based at the Pastoral Centre, within Emsworth Methodist Church, and will also be monthly, starting Wednesday 10th June at 1pm.
