Cafe culture for cash-strapped churches

Diners sit yards away from where church services are being conducted

A vicar has been so successful in revitalising the fortunes of his Hereford church that he has become a consultant to advise other cash-strapped parishes on how to make money.

Rev Andrew Mottram has turned part of his mediaeval church into a bustling cafe where people can sit and listen to a midday service being conducted just yards away as they sip a coffee or enjoy lunch.

All Saints in Hereford underwent a radical makeover including the introduction of bold modern designs inside the church to help attract new visitors.

Rev Mottram said the plan - which included opening the vegetarian cafe - had proved so successful that he now wanted to spread the word to other churches struggling to make ends meet across the country.

'Inherited wealth'

The vicar believes the scheme has placed returned the church to its original position as an integral part of the community.

The vicar believes the changes have attracted a younger congregation

He said: "I find it very difficult in a sense to put what has happened into a few words.

"It's really about courage. It's about vision and about saying that what we've inherited from the past is an inherited wealth.

"The one thing to do with inherited wealth is to use it."

Diversification schemes

The cafe attracts hundreds of people every week, Rev Mottram said, and had helped attract younger people into the building where they could experience a church service in a relaxed atmosphere.

Churchwarden Audrey Brown said: "People now come in who wouldn't normally go to a service.

"They come in, have food and they see a service going on and gradually, yes, it's bringing people back into the church."

But Church of England leaders said that while some diversification schemes could work alongside the ecclesiastical work of churches others would not gain approval.

The Rt Rev Richard Chartres, of the Church Heritage Forum, said: "I would not want to see churches made into snooker halls universally.

"Not that I have anything against billiards or snooker, but at the same time I think there are limits on what you can do in a building if you really care for its story."