Church 'sanctuary' for bookshop

Susan Caroline was 'dumbstruck' by the offer to set up in St Alkmund's

An independent bookshop in Shrewsbury has moved into the vestry of a church.

Susan Caroline, 51, from Pengwern Books has been offered interim 'sanctuary' at St Alkmund's by a church warden.

She said she was not making enough money to support her previous shop and described the idea from the church in Shrewsbury as 'heaven sent'.

Ms Caroline is not a church-goer but said she really liked it: "It's a really peaceful spot... we're right down the aisle... it's cosy."

The town needs its small shops

Caroline Thewles, a church warden at St Alkmund's, came up with the idea.

She has been a customer of Pengwern Books in Princess Street since it opened in 2004.

It's interim sanctuary... it's giving me an opportunity to recoup and regroup Susan Caroline

"I was so unhappy about the thought that she might have to leave the town," she said.

"I mean the town needs its small shops."

The shop's presence in the church is discrete, with a sign outside and a small poster on the vestry door.

"It was quiet to start off with, but people have been finding us," said Ms Caroline, "it's lovely not to have traffic hurtling past the door."

"Some customers have a slight halt in their step as they approach the altar," she added.

Not only a place of worship

Pengwern Books is not a Christian bookshop, but Ms Caroline intends to introduce a number of faith-related titles and hopes to open a small second-hand section with some proceeds donated to the church.

The church hopes the bookshop will bring more people into St Alkmund's

Ms Caroline said she was deeply moved by the support from customers and the church: "It's interim sanctuary... it's giving me an opportunity to recoup and regroup.

"I want to trade, I've worked hard at this, I love what I do and it's nice to be able to help the church."

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) at St Alkmund's wants to become more involved with the community in Shrewsbury.

The church hosts concerts, talks and coffee mornings.

I tell the wife I'm going to church

Mrs Thewles said the book shop is another way to bring more people into St Alkmund's: "Not only is it a place of worship - it is a beautiful church."

The painted glass window at St Alkmund's is being restored in 2009 at a cost of approximately £200,000.

Services are held in a vestry at St Alkmund's on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings.

When there are funerals or weddings, Susan Caroline said she would leave a message on the answering machine.

Asked what he thought about the shop moving into the church, one customer said: "Superb. I tell the wife I'm going to church for a quiet half hour and she thinks it's wonderful."