When Anastasiia arrived in Underriver as a Ukrainian refugee, she never imagined she would be running her own café.
However, thanks to the support of St Margaret’s Church, she now hosts the Heavenly Café every week, offering homemade cakes and coffee to a warm and welcoming crowd.
She was amazed at how people at the church came alongside and supported her, providing equipment and use of the space to get things started.
“It’s been so amazing how much the church has supported me to pursue my dream of opening my café,” she says, smiling as she serves another customer. “I feel so at home here.”
It is this spirit of openness, welcome, and simply coming alongside people, that the vicar, the Rev Serena Willoughby, says is at the heart of life and mission for the churches of St Lawrence in Seal Chart and St Margaret’s in Underriver:
“It’s just good to be available to everyone and to be seen as a neighbour. People respond to that, and these things grow organically.”
Watch a short film about the cafe and other outreach by the churches.
Serving the community
Indeed Serena and the congregations have worked to make the two churches vibrant hubs for the community in creative and sometimes unexpected ways.
The Soups and Puds initiative at St Margaret’s, for example, has become a cherished monthly tradition in the winter months, where members of the community gather over hot bowls of soup and comforting puddings, sharing laughter and conversation.
Meanwhile, Wellbeing Wednesdays at both churches have brought people together for activities such as Pilates and singing that energise and nourish both body and soul.
Photo: The range of events on offer at Wellbeing Wednesdays
Over at St Lawrence, the Community Café has been a lovely haven during winter months, providing warmth in temperature and companionship.
And an annual quiz night, first launched after the village events to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee, has continued as a much-anticipated event, proving that a little friendly competition is greatly enjoyed.
A church that welcomes all
For Lay Minister Gretel, this sense of open-hearted community is what makes the church so special:
“There’s a real sense of being neighbourly to everyone, whether they come to church or not,” she says.
Photo: At the annual Animal Blessing Service, pets of all shapes and sizes come forward to receive a blessing.
That sense of belonging has even led to the formation of a new village community association, an unexpected but wonderful offshoot of the church’s outreach efforts.
For Serena, these initiatives are simply a reflection of what the church is meant to be:
“We've focused on nurturing a true spirit of inclusivity that welcomes everyone—whether they attend church regularly or not."
She adds:
"For me, that's what my ministry has always been about, people’s journeys – and joining the journey of faith with Jesus Christ."