Diocese of Peterborough
The San Marco Café
St Mark’s Church, Queensway, Wellingborough
The San Marco Café opened its doors for the first time on Saturday 4th June 2005, and has been open every Saturday, ever since.
The cafe was set up as an outreach initiative and has succeeded in bringing members of the parish community, who do not enter the church otherwise, into the church building, as well as some regular church members. At the café you will meet the lonely, widows and widowers, the disabled, the elderly and young families. Friendships have been made, with some widows going on holiday together.
The café is held in the church hall, which is an integral part of the church building. Tables and chairs are set out, creating a café type experience for those who come. Initially the food menu offered bacon and sausage baps, but now includes a full cooked breakfast, as well as drinks and sweets, all at a very reasonable price. Traidcraft tea and coffee is used.
The café is staffed by church members on a voluntary basis. There is a rota of who prepares and cooks the food each week. Some of the staff have gained an award in Food Hygiene. The team work well together and share fully in the aim of the café.
The aim of the San Marco Café is to share God’s love with those who come. Members of the Ministry Team, including the Parish Nurse, mix with the people, and together they offer a listening ear and advice if sought. The door to the church is left open, and often non-church people will peep in to look at the church, sometimes venturing in to sit quietly and pray, or receive prayer ministry.
As the café has grown and developed, it has become a meeting point for the local community. Both the Community Support Police officers and the Local Ward Councillors attend once a month.
A weekly raffle is held, and also a second-hand book stall is available.
The parish of St Mark’s is a parish with areas of social deprivation, and the San Marco Café is a way of reaching out to those on low incomes, or experiencing family and financial difficulties, in a very non-threatening and beneficial way.
As the café continues to grow, there is always the need for more volunteers to share in the privilege of ministering to the people of the parish, in a way that is fun as well as hard work.
June 2008
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