Our main aim is to provide a warm, welcoming environment where everyone, especially someone entering for the first time, can feel comfortable.  Our Coffee Shop is a relaxed, no-pressure zone where the local community, as well as our own Church family can have a chat over coffee, develop friendships and feel at home.

We rely entirely on volunteers to serve our refreshments.  Some come from our congregation, some from local organisations we are linked to, but many initially come in as customers.  Their hard work and enthusiasm are the main reasons for the success of our venture.

On the first Thursday of each month, on the Farmers' Market day, we hold a Charity Coffee Morning to raise the profile and create fund-raising opportunities for local charities, so come along and have a break from shopping, enjoy a tea or coffee, often with home made cake and scones, and support these good causes.. 

Our Charity Mornings started in 1997.  We always welcome new charities.  However, I have been approached by supporters of charities who would love the chance of a further fund raising morning, and to be as fair as possible, have tried to offer the first charities who joined us, three years ago, the earliest opportunity.  If, however, you are a supporter of a suitable charity which would benefit from this opportunity, and you have not had the opportunity of a fund raising morning, please let me know.

These fundraising mornings are often, we are delighted to say, very busy.  There is no doubt that all the charities really value the help of all the volunteers who make these mornings possible, and they are very much appreciated.  A big ‘Thank You’ goes to everyone who helps.

Future Charity Coffee Mornings

Monthly Report

On Thursday 1 July, The Brittle Bone Society joined us with a wide selection of wonderful craft items for sale, and some delicious scones and cakes.  We were delighted to be able to donate £99, our takings in the Meeting Place that morning, and a further £184 was raised by their stall. 

There was no Charity Coffee Morning in August, but join us for a coffee on

Thursday 2 September – 10 am – 12 noon – Cancer Research UK

In addition to home made cakes, there will be bric-a-brac, paperback books, and in readiness for the autumn, jigsaw puzzles and board games for sale.  There will also be musical entertainment during the course of the morning, what more could you ask for?  Cancer Research were the first Charity to be supported by a Coffee Morning, and raised an amazing total of more than £400 in 2007 – please come along and help them to reach that total again.

7 October – Sarah Matheson Trust

The UK support charity for people living with, and caring for, the neurological degenerative disorder Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). There will be Christmas cards available – your opportunity to get organised – and home made cakes, together with a variety of other items.

Janet Severn