Most welcoming of churches

THE tireless work of a Westcliff church to reach out to its neighbours has been rewarded by being featured in a national
calendar, a spin-off from a competition to seek out the most welcoming church in England.

St Andrew's, Westcliff-on-Sea, features in Ecclesiastical Insurance's calendar after achieving a finalist place in the
company's national competition to recognise those churches that have been most successful in adapting to a modern society and changing local communities.

Clive Lucas, the Reader at St Andrew's, said: "We have been responsive to the people around us and we have focused
on their specific needs, making the church more attractive to all ages.

"St Andrew's is in an area with a high density of people - young families, single parents and immigrants - but has a low
density of church goers." But the church attracted a number of grants when it cut the nave in half to create a coffee lounge at the back of the church.

Clive added: "A lot of people are surprised by walking in to a Cafe Nero-style coffee lounge with wicker chairs, tables and
leather settees. They don't expect it. "The church was having a very little impact but now we have a thriving mother and toddler group with an open house on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

"We have identified a lot of people with personal support needs and we are trying to ensure that all our activities are user friendly for them without the church becoming health specialists."

St Andrew's collected a £100 prize and copies of the calendar at a presentation ceremony held at York Minster. The Ven. Peter Taylor, the Archdeacon of Harlow and one of the competition's judges, said: "The judges were amazed at the inspiring ideas churches all over the country have put in place to make their church an open and welcoming place.

We're excited to be able to celebrate these achievements and share them so that churches all over the country
can benefit." Commenting on the competition the Very Revd Keith Jones, Dean of York, said: "Church communities cannot
survive by trying to resuscitate the past.

"Ecclesiastical's competition is a challenge to them to become vital centres of life and inspiration for today. The results
show what energy and flair there is around the church groups in this country."

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