Shaw couple unite community with free hot drinks

MELKSHAM couple, Mike and Leila Sarson-Rowe, have been offering free hot drinks at Christ Church in Shaw every Monday, in an effort to bring the community together and open out the church.

The couple have been providing free tea and coffee to residents every Monday from 8.45am to 10am, enabling people to come together for a drink, chat and a ‘friendly moment.’

“There are young families that live on nearby estates and a lot of their children go to the primary school at Shaw,” explained Mike. “We see mostly mums but some dads as well, taking their children half a mile or so to the school, rain or shine. We thought, wouldn’t it be nice if, for just one day a week, we could offer the community hot drinks.”

The couple started offering hot drinks a few weeks before Christmas and say it has been going well. “People who come are very good at coming back again. It’s free, but we invite donations and we provide a good cup of coffee. The church has two charities every year; this year it’s Wiltshire Mind and Julian House. If people like to make a donation, it goes into the church charity pot.”

Nationally, churches across the country have been exploring ways to engage with the wider community and open the spaces out for community use. Mike said bringing the community together for a hot drink, opens the church up in a new way.

“We are aware that some people might not feel it’s for them as it’s in the church,” explained Mike. “As church people ourselves, we are aware there is some hesitancy but this is part of the idea, inviting people in, it’s a welcoming place and there is no commitment.”

Mike added, “We are not quite ready to offer take-away coffee, but we are considering the possibility. There are some people who will never be able to come in because they are working. Maybe walking their kids to school is their one bit of exercise, then they sit down at a computer all day. We are thinking about ordering some reusable coffee cups.”

Reverend Jane Palmer said, “We are working hard at Christ Church to be a centre in our community, to serve everyone and be an open and welcoming space. We are a partner inclusive church, which actively seeks to welcome everyone regardless of their backgrounds, sexuality, disability etc. The coffee morning for the school parents is a wonderful initiative by Mike and Leila who have lots of energy and vision for serving the community.

“Last week saw the removal of our pews and new chairs and coffee tables to make more space even more flexible and welcoming and we are looking forward to trying new things, working closely with the school, and being known for being open to all.”

Mike and Leila have also taken on more community initiatives. Last year, the couple bought five acres of land between the villages of Shaw and Whitley to keep the space for community use and to save it from being developed into houses in the future.

“We are making gentle progress with the land,” says Mike. “We have planted a few trees, we are talking to some ecology people, the local river trust is going to come down in a few weeks to chat with us. Before Christmas, we had a working party to clear one of the paths and we are going to be putting some stone and wood chippings down. It can get awfully muddy! We also have a few volunteers who would like to help with a community garden and grow a few vegetables for people to share.”