Read four stories of churches nurturing faith and fellowship through food.
St Cleopas, Dingle, Liverpool: "We find out a lot from people when they come"
“St Cleopas Church in Dingle, Liverpool, took part in Church Action on Poverty Sunday for the first time last year, using the materials to spark a discussion on local issues.
Vicar, Siân Gasson said: “We like what Church Action on Poverty does, and that all the money goes to help people.”
The church, which is in one of the most economically deprived parishes in England, runs a Your Local Pantry and a community cafe, so sees the way that food can bring a neighbourhood together to build fellowship and community, and to enable people to explore faith.
Siân (pictured above with Pantry volunteers) says: “We are here to serve the people of L8, Dingle, and this is one way in which we do that.
“Churches have to do this. Honestly, you have got to put people who are poor first, I think. We have been doing this for five years and people are coming all the time, and we find out a lot from people when they come.
“Personally, I have gone home some days and cried to God about certain people or situations. There’s always something that gets to you, but people are really upbeat as well. It is also fun at this place – the Liverpool sense of humour is brilliant!
“There is the verse, “She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.” (Proverbs 31:20). I love this chapter, and I think that it’s a big part of what ministry is all about.
“And also: “Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”
“This was both a challenge and a comfort to me, personally. Over 20 years ago, my husband died, and it was the first time I thought about poverty for my children and myself. What is really special, is that it showed me that I still had a part to play, it didn’t matter that I was a widow, and Jesus could see that. So, this verse and the one in Proverbs remind you that God sees you, whoever you are.”
Emmanuel Church, Maida Hill, London: "Our vision is not just to feed peoples bodies but to feed their souls and minds."
“In 2022, I had received many donations which were not easy to shift and we had lost the nursery that occupied our small hall.
“These two factors were important in the discussions to help local people experiencing food insecurity. Keith and I talked about maybe opening a food bank but Keith was very keen on the Pantry model, and the thought of giving people more dignity. The PCC was keen to give it a go with the hope that we would have enough volunteers. We launched in March 2023.
“It was slow at first but then it just mushroomed and we saw steady increases in numbers.
“We run the Pantry in both halls and the worship space is adjacent. Our vision is to get rid of the pews and have it as a flexible space, where people can be sitting around having refreshments, and we can offer wrap-around care. Our vision is not just to feed people’s bodies but to feed their souls and minds.
“There’s not much crossover between people coming to church and coming to the Pantry – just a few. Quite a few Pantry members are Muslim, and quite a few go to different churches; eg we have many Eritrean members who attend an Eritrean Orthodox church not too far from here. But if there’s an event in their lives, and they live in the parish, we’re here to offer support, and it’s quite humbling that people ask for prayer.
“There are some people who live within easy walking distance and we would love to see them at services, events or the drop-in we run once in a while for a sense of something different in their lives.
“This has brought a sense of purpose to the church as well. It’s a part of our missional vision to reach out to our community and serve our parish. Members are not coming to the Pantry because we are doing it for God; they’re coming for food – but that’s what we try to do. We do it with care and try to be personal with things, like making sure we provide for people who are vegetarian. We get to know people and their circumstances and people appreciate that thoughtfulness. Our vision is wrap-around care and signposting in a personal way. We try to be involved in people’s lives and earn their trust.”
St Peter's, Norbiton: "The more we are here, the more we are building trust."
St Peter’s Norbiton is in South West London, a short walk from Kingston-Upon-Thames town centre.
As well as its main building, it has a small hall called Archway, about 7 minutes’ walk away, and it has run a community cafe there since 2021. The hall is on the edge of a big social housing estate, The Cambridge Road Estate, which is undergoing a lot of redevelopment. Over the next 15 years, all the buildings will be replaced with a mixture of social and private housing.
Natalie Jones, church curate, says: “It’s a real time of change and transition for a lot of residents. At the cafe, our objective is to feed people but also offer a listening space whereby we establish ongoing relationships, year in year out.
“A lot of people have known this building for a long time. We call it the parish hall, but it has the cafe, Tiny Tots, and youth groups and the council also uses it. We are positioned so well for engagement, which is exciting.
“The cafe runs from 10 to 12 on Wednesdays. As well as the food, through our partner church Doxa Deo and its City Changers charity, we can also offer debt advice, housing advice and links with GrowBaby. People can come for a cup of tea or a fuel voucher and then often stay for a chat. After the cafe, we invite people to stay for a short Bible study as well.
“We are on the cusp of 150 new neighbours. The buildings are shiny and glossy and moving is a nice feeling for people, but the circumstances going on in their lives do not necessarily become better.”
How ‘churchy’ is it? Who else uses the cafe?
“We have an open prayer meeting before we start the cafe. People know it’s run by St Peter’s Church and that there are Christians on the team. There are Bibles around for people to read and there’s a dedicated prayer table but prayer seems to be offered quite organically within our conversations with the guests.
“We have a person on the regeneration team who comes frequently, and the council staff stop by. There’s a community health and wellbeing worker who really sees the cafe as a helpful place to do her work from.
“We do eggs, sausage, bacon and some other stuff – it’s a bit of a mix: classic English breakfast, or yoghurt and granola and fruit. It’s all free but it’s like the loaves and fishes, we always seem to have enough. People often come for some element of the food, and get advice and support along the way.
“Most people don’t just come in then go back out. Because the food is right there, you can’t miss it. You have much longer conversations when you are there with a cup of tea.
“It does feel like we are going out to the community – like in Luke 10, where Jesus sends out his disciples on mission – whilst also there’s a sense of us embedding Luke 14 too – and inviting people into the banquet.
“For us, it’s about understanding people’s needs. Such fruitful ministry happens when you are living and breathing the community. The more we are here, the more we are building trust.
What would you say to any churches starting out on work like this?
“Partnerships are key. We could have done the cafe and food and a warm space, and we would probably have got a few people coming in, but because we could connect with Doxa Deo and have other services, we have a USP which is such a privilege to offer.
“I would say if you have prayed and have a sense of God’s call – then go for it! But also see if there is another church that has something already happening, or has extra resources, and see how you can partner. Furthermore, seek to work well with the local authority. If you can build relationships here, it’s very helpful in the long run. Above all, listen for God’s voice and enjoy joining in with His kingdom work wherever He has called you!
Parson Cross, Sheffield: 18 languages uniting through food
Pioneer minister Nick Waterfield says: “We’ve always seen food, faith and fellowship as sitting alongside each other, and around the table.
“From our lunchtime soups and sandwiches, to cooking on the community allotment, or community celebrations we share together, food is important. At its heart we see sharing food being about relationships and as a key to building social justice.
“Before the Covid pandemic we ran an independent food bank which helped a regular 100 households each week, during the pandemic we made a decision as Trustees to “come back different” and we did. We had worked alongside a Trussel foodbank during Covid and we left the foodbank business to them afterwards, turning instead to a more community pantry model of offering food for people, offering more agency and involvement from those accessing it.
“But we also have a history of eating and sharing together; whether that’s been soups cooked over an open fire on the allotments, or our meet and eat groups over the years (sometimes working with other partners like Foodcycle) or whether that’s been the community celebrations we’ve held to mark special times like Christmas.
“Most recently we shared a wonderful feast to celebrate Eid / Easter and Nowruz with our friends from SAVTE who run an English conversation class alongside us on a Tuesday. Over 18 languages are spoken in the group, which also consists of a variety of cultures and faiths.
“Food will always be an important part of what we offer, and at it’s heart is the desire to build fellowship and to share love, grace and hope”
Feeling inspired? Your church could support work like this, or start something where you are. Sign up now for Church Action on Poverty Sunday!
