Well, what a journey it has been! 3 years ago, a vision was formed to renovate the former St Wilfrid’s Hall and open it as a community hub where people can gather to experience God’s love and where Freedom Church Mereside can have their spiritual home. After lots of grant writing fundraising and teamwork we have finally achieved the vision in fact it has taken us beyond our expectations.

The Centre is open from Monday to Friday from 8.45am to 1.30pm where you can come and browse round our charity shop called Second Chance after ordering a quality cup of coffee or tea from Martha’s Kitchen. We also offer a small menu of food including cakes and toasties cooked by our trained volunteers. 

The centre also offers a quiet room called Mary’s room for one-to-one counselling or just a quiet space to sit and read while escaping the business of life. (Top marks to those who have correctly spotted the Martha and Mary connection). We have managed to create a functional space in one of our back rooms called Lighthouse which is the name of our children’s Sunday School, on a Sunday it is set up with craft tables and our Cheeky Panda prayer bears yet throughout the week it is a conference and training room which can be hired out to bring in revenue. 

We have activity groups meeting throughout the week including our Gospel Choir, Experience, Woolly Wafflers, monthly Bingo and Tabletop sales. If you want to know more about these please pop into the centre and chat to us.

We are also overly excited about the future potential of the space as we are currently planning a parent and toddlers group called Chatty Tots alongside enquiries for the Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Rainbows to use the centre. 

How amazing is Jesus who provides us all that we need, as long as we trust in him.