This is a new ministry we are setting up at St. Mary's to offer continued contact and support to those members of our congregation who are ill, short or long term, at home or in hospital, or housebound because of infirmity or age, and so can't get to church. One of the core values of St. Mary's is to be a caring church and so we see ourselves as a caring family and are concerned that no-one should feel out-of-touch because of their illness or incapacity but should be reassured that they matter to us and have some on-going friendly and spiritual support and care from the church.

There will be a team of church members engaged in this ministry, chosen for their ability to listen, empathise with and befriend. They will visit people, usually one-to-one. The frequency of their visits will be agreed between them and the person to be visited and what is said during the visits will be strictly confidential.

In order to work effectively, the scheme relies on good communication, so if you would like someone to visit you or if you know of someone else who might appreciate being visited please let us know. You can contact the vicar or the Church Centre office, post a note at the Information Point in church or contact the co-ordinator of the scheme, Stephanie Grimshaw on 969 0761.

We would particularly like the carers or families of people who are ill to contact us, so that we can visit the person who is ill and also support you.
Please also let us know of anyone going into either Wythenshawe or Trafford General who would like to be visited by the hospital chaplain. We can help to arrange this.