Cafe Drop In

At Easter, in 2025, Beth, Sue, Alice and Sandra completed Stepping Up. In March 2025, the Cafe Drop In was established as a way of increasing their church’s presence in the community and tackling the issue of loneliness within the parish. It was set up with the purpose of providing a safe and welcoming place for a variety of people in the parish who are looking for community and connection.

Beth, as the Youth and Community Pioneer at AST, runs the Cafe Drop In and is supported by a committed and growing team of volunteers that includes her three fellow Mustard Seed Community Ministers (Sue, Alice and Sandra) and one individual who is currently on Stepping Up (Carole).

The Cafe Drop In runs every Tuesday from 10am to 12pm at St Thomas’ Church, which is a flexible and welcoming space in the middle of a residential area of the parish. It offers refreshments and a comfy space for people to sit and chat. There is always a prayer corner set up, space with children’s toys and activities, and space for craft and puzzles for people of all ages to join in with. The Cafe Drop In has become one of the key mission activities of the church, providing an invaluable service in the local community; it draws people together, builds community, and welcomes people into the church building, creating a stepping stone towards deeper engagement with the life of the church and opportunities to explore faith.

Over the past 12 months, a regular group of people has been established who come each week and find the Cafe Drop In to be an important part of their week and a life giving way in which they participate in the life of the church community. This group includes people already coming along to church on Sundays as well as members of the public who are not yet part of the worshipping community. Most weeks bring new people; parents with small children, elderly people, cyclists in the middle of a ride, people who have newly moved to the area. In Beth’s words;

‘It feels like the local community really do use it as a space they can ‘drop in’ to, so we still see it very much as a positive if people come from time to time even if they’re not committed to being there every week. ‘

For Beth, one of the great joys of Cafe Drop In has been seeing the team grow in missional confidence, and the readiness with which they share their faith with others. It is a great way in which the church community can organically ‘be with’ those in our local area, seeking to share the love of Jesus with them. One member is a teenager who has moved from being part of the regular attendees to being an enthusiastic volunteer on the team. Beth says;

‘Watching her grow in faith and confidence has been one of the greatest joys of the Cafe Drop In over the past year. She has found a space where she can flourish, and is building relationships with people of all different ages and life experiences. Her volunteering is also helping her to grow in skills that she might one day use in the work place and the wider world. The primary joy has been seeing her come alive, grow in confidence and begin to explore questions of faith and following Jesus for herself.’

The big hope is to see God's Kingdom come in the Cafe Drop In, to see people seeking comfort in the safe space, coming to know Jesus and asking for prayer when needed.

To find out more about the Cafe Drop In and AST, click here.