Bishop brews up for city clubbers

The Nexus Project will have a non-alcoholic bar

The Bishop of Manchester steps behind the counter of the city's newest venue on Wednesday to brew up for clubbers.

Bishop Nigel McCulloch will be at the unveiling of The Nexus Project, a creative arts centre and night time cafe in Manchester's Northern Quarter.

The Nexus Project, which opens on Saturday, is sponsored by the Methodist Church and Sanctus 1, a group which meets at Manchester Cathedral.

"Church is about being where people are," said the bishop.

'Amazing space'

The Methodist Church began renovating its little-used basement which opens onto Dale Street earlier this year.

"We have this amazing space that we want to use in a practical way to serve people who live and work here," said the Rev Cris Acher, who is behind The Nexus Project.

Nexus will also be a venue for film, art and gigs and host Sanctus 1, which is described as a contemporary expression of church for city-dwellers, especially the 18 to 40 age group which make up 80% of the city centre's population.

Opening at 2300 each Saturday, there will be a non-alcoholic bar, chill out tunes, and a safe place to order a taxi.

Welcome place

The night café is part of a broader 'City Centre Safe' strategy for people enjoying a night out in Manchester.

"I hope Nexus will become a place of friendship and welcome for people who live and work here,"said Bishop McCulloch.

"It's an example of how the Church can be relevant to a new generation."

The launch is taking place in the build up to Back To Church Sunday, a Greater Manchester churches' initiative to get people back to the pew.