Faith is something many of us have held onto throughout our lives, something we’ve turned to in moments of worry, loss and hope, something that has helped make sense of things when life hasn’t always been easy, and something that has connected us to a community, where people know us, remember us and we feel they belong.
When a move into a care home begins to feel like something that may soon need to be considered, we of course start by asking the practical questions about the location, care needs, food, activities, but then there are the more personal parts of life like faith, and the sense of connection that comes with it and whether those things will still be there, especially at a time when so much is changing and that sense of familiarity can matter more than ever.
For those that live at Heanton Nursing Home, that connection remains close.
St Augustine’s Church, the 13th century parish church for Heanton Punchardon in North Devon, sits beside Heanton Nursing Home and has been part of the village’s parish life for many years.
Reverand Glyn Lewry is Priest in Charge at St Augustine’s, and he visits Heanton as a familiar and reassuring presence for many people living at the home.
People who call Heanton home can continue to visit the church if they wish. Some attend services, others spend time sitting quietly inside or in the churchyard. For those who have always had faith, these small continuations matter. Hymns are still recognised. Prayers still hold meaning, and the sense of being part of something beyond the home remains.
Rev Lewry shared “there was someone who used to come regularly from Heanton, people knew him and he was part of the church community and that sense of being known does not disappear.”
A Continued Connection Through Life’s Difficult Moments
There are moments in life when that continued sense of connection can mean even more.
Rev Lewry supports people across the local community through some of life’s most difficult and emotional moments, often simply by being there when words are hard to find.
During more emotional and uncertain times in life, it is often that quiet presence and reassurance that matter most. A known voice, someone sitting beside you, or the comfort of being recognised can mean a great deal.
In those moments, faith can offer comfort. A prayer, a reading, or simply someone being there without expectation. Not to lead, but to sit alongside.
Moving into Heanton doesn’t mean leaving those parts of life behind, they continue, just in a different way.
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