Volunteers have been busy adding sparkle to Northwich Salvation Army Corps (church) in readiness for a new café church which will provide hot food and drink as well as the chance for fellowship and friendship five days a week.

A team of helpers have been applying a lick of paint to the Tabley Street church and include a group of people who are seeking eventual employment in the workplace through the Government’s New Deal scheme. Other volunteers include Lorna Reid, who once suffered from severe depression, and Mike Dean, a former rough sleeper. Both found a new ‘home’ and place to worship at The Salvation Army and have been more than happy to lend a helping hand.

A new kitchen will soon be fitted to provide the opportunity to open a regular café church offering a range of snacks and hot meals including Christmas Day dinner.

Captain Imogen Stewart, leader of The Salvation Army in Northwich, said: “We are asking the community to be patient at the moment while all the necessary work is carried out to provide a café church five days a week. We are always very busy with around 150 people passing through the church each day during the week. We recognise that there is a need to offer a place where people can come and enjoy hot and cold refreshments as well as the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.”

Captain Stewart said she hoped the café church will be up and running in the next three to five weeks and will compliment the Corps’ Sunday worship service at 2pm.

The Corps is also very active in the community and Captain Stewart recently enjoyed the privilege of blessing the track at the Thundersprint contest which saw hundreds of motorcyclists descend upon the town for a weekend of racing and exhibitions.

The Corps also provides food parcels for the needy and homeless and is very grateful to the local Sainsbury’s store for its donation of food twice a week.

For more information on Norwich Salvation Army Corps contact Captain Imogen Stewart on 01606 330572.

Based on information supplied by Wayne Coles.