Trip Down Memory lane for Castleford dementia friendly church
A Castleford church will open its doors for a trip down memory lane as part of Dementia Awareness Week which starts on May 17.
All Saints Parish Church (known as the Parish Church) will open for an informal drop in from 2-4pm on Wed May 20 and will try to recreate a traditional church with the sound of choirs singing familiar hymns, clergy in full cassocks and the smell of incense burning.
The idea comes from the Castleford team parish which has become the first Dementia friendly church team in the diocese for its work toward making a difference for people with dementia, their families and their carers.
Fr Kevin Grieves, who is leading on the dementia initiative for the team parish said: “Our churches are quite traditional and at first I was worried that this might be a negative thing; but I know now that people living with dementia often retain memories from earlier in their lives – a time of traditional hymns and priests in robes. We’re hoping this event will reflect that so people can relive some fond memories of church.
“The idea is that we stimulate some of the senses of people living with dementia by letting them look around the church, we will have incense burning and a CD playing through our choirs singing traditional hymns.
“I hope they find it a positive and stimulating experience and if successful we are looking at organising our first dementia friendly service in summer,” he added.
The event on May 20th will be run by Fr Kevin and some designated Dementia Friends. There will be special prayers for people with dementia and Fr Kevin has asked for names to be put forward for this. There are free refreshments at the back of church throughout the event.
DROP IN – Wed May 20 2-4pm All Saints Parish Church, Castleford
The church team has just held its third successful Dementia Friends Awareness Session at the end of April which saw eight new faces and people in the parish are busy knitting Twiddlemuffs for those living with the condition who have to go into hospital. To find out more about events, or how you can help visit www.castlefordteamparish.org.uk