Ann with John at Lodging House Mission

'I Love What I Do'

Monday June 18 2018

Jackie Macadam meets Ann Lyall DCS and learns more about her work with addicts at Glasgow's Lodging House Mission.

“I remember one chap who used to come in. Very smart. Very well dressed. He seemed not to belong. And yet he did. He was homeless. His relationship had broken down. He’d lost everything. He had a gambling addiction.”

Ann Lyall, DCS is talking about just one of the extraordinary people she met when she worked as chaplain to the Lodging House Mission in Glasgow.

“John 10:10 ‘I have come that you might have life, life in all it’s fullness’ is the verse from the Bible I always wanted to share with others especially the most vulnerable, neglected and marginalised in our world,” says Ann. “That feeling took me from a comfy home as the daughter of a minister in Lanarkshire to working for over 20 years in Castlemilk East in Glasgow and then to being chaplain for those who came to the Lodging House Mission for help and relief, and then on to being a deacon that is parachuted in to help wherever and whenever I’m needed.

“The thing that really appealed to me about LHM was that there was absolutely no judgment. People would come in with every problem under the sun. Relationship breakdowns are actually the biggest cause of homelessness, and those breakdowns can be caused by any number of things.

“Those who have been in prison, those who have addictions, those with mental health issues – the statistics are horrendous for young people brought up in the care system.

“And those who have been in the armed forces seem to make up a shockingly high level of those affected by homelessness.”

Ann (right) was born in Edinburgh but as a child moved to Kirkmuirhill where her father was a minister. She left school at 16 and initially worked in an insurance office, before attending St Ninian’s Training Centre in Crieff, where she felt a call to the Diaconate. After training, her first job was at Castlemilk East, which she says was ‘not really the place I imagined myself working when I imagined my ministry, but I soon realised I was exactly where I needed to be'.

“I was there for 23 years. It sounds obvious, but over that period of time I really got to know the people – and even better – to be accepted as part of the community.

“I knew about the Lodging House Mission of course, it was well known in the Glasgow Churches, and when the post of chaplain became vacant in 2002, I was asked if I would consider taking on the role. It seemed the right time to be moving on and I was the first and so far the only woman to be chaplain there.

“The Lodging House Mission was – and is – an amazing place.

“When I was chaplain there, we used to have around 25 to 30 people who would come along on a Sunday evening to the service, and others who would attend bible study and prayer groups through the week.

“Perhaps 90% of them were men. They were not churchgoers in general, but they all loved to ask questions about the bible readings, the lessons or just what they’d heard and faced. They had a real desire to ‘take part’ in the service, and not just be spoken to. Some would light candles, some would read lessons. They just wanted to do rather than be done to.

“During our ‘Open Prayer’ time, they would pray about things that were on their mind. There were no inhibitions when they prayed. It was really beautiful, eye-opening and humbling to see people with nothing, praying and talking to God. So much of our time there was spent just listening to people talk.

“I think there I felt closer to doing what Jesus wanted us to do than any other place I’ve worked. It was one of the holiest places I’ve ever spent time in.

“I also tried to run a retreat twice a year where I would take between 12 and 15 people away. We went to places like The Bield, Iona and Lindisfarne.

“It could be a very nervous time for me – these were people with very chaotic lifestyles – but it was incredibly satisfying.

“Many times during the retreat, they would come and tell me that it was the first time in years they’d felt safe when they slept, especially the women.

“In the evening we would get into the deepest, most profound conversations. It was truly a blessing to be able to be a part of that.”

Ann left her work at the Lodging House Mission in 2010 and became a ‘peripatetic’ deacon, doing the job of an interim minister effectively.

“I have worked all over the place now,” she says. “I was placed for a time in Ardnamurchan, and then for a while in the Biggar area working with eight churches there as they went through the process of change caused by presbytery planning. Then I worked in Muirhouse in Edinburgh and at the Old Kirk, Pilton as they became one congregation. ”

“Then for 18 months, I was sent to my old home – Kirkmuirhill, where my Dad had been minister so many years earlier. There had been changes, of course, but I was glad I was able to have been there and helped, during what was, for the congregation there, a difficult and distressing time.

“Now I’m based in Avonbridge/Torphichen outside Edinburgh. I’ve been there for around six months now as their interim deacon.

“The thing with this life, though I guess it’s hard to put down roots anywhere, is that it’s a life full of adventure. You never know where you’ll be sent next time, who you’ll meet, what situations you’ll face.

“I never married and have no children, so I can do many things, go many places, that people who have family commitments can’t – or not without significant upheaval.

“I’ve been to Zambia, Tanzania, and Kyrgyzstan, India, Nepal as well as more ‘normal’ places like Canada, sometimes on holiday on an ethical travel journey, but more often representing the Diaconate.

“I love what I do. Every year is an adventure for me.”