More than 100 people from Saint Mary’s Church came together last Saturday to work on projects across the city with the aim of blessing and serving their community.
It was the 6th year of ‘Saints in the City’. The day started with prayer and worship at the church in Chapel Road.
Rector Jon Finch said, “Our mandate here is that we have received blessing and so we want to be a blessing out to our city. We don’t necessarily think that this is going to fix all the city’s problems, but I think we want to put a marker in the ground to say we are here, we love this city, we believe in this city and to raise hope and start some conversations.
“It’s important that we see this as part of our discipleship. We are called to be servants to serve our local community. It’s good for the disciples of our church to roll their sleeves up and get involved and do something that’s for others and so I think it’s win-win because it’s good for us but it’s also hopefully good for the city.”
There were a number of initiatives across the city. Some teams were involved with litter picking around the neighbourhood.
Megan Crowley is Youth and Community Lead at St Mary’s and was part of the litter picking team. She said, “I think it’s encouraging our young people to be like Jesus and be active in their faith but it’s also important to be a presence in the community to show the church is here, the church is active, the church is alive and we’re here to serve you. We’re willing, we want you to come, the doors are open.”
Work was also taking place at Bevois Town Primary School where flowers and shrubs were being planted in the playground. The church carries out a number of community projects with the school.
Daniel Coutes is a second year Geography student at the University of Southampton. He commented, “I’m working as a team and it’s quite therapeutic planting together in the sun. It’s a good opportunity to do some gardening which is something I wouldn’t normally have the chance to do as a student and to be doing God’s work.”
Others were tasked with gardening at nearby supported accommodation. The Saints in the City day was co-ordinated by Sophie-Rose Fanner.
Sophie-Rose said, “We work really closely with mental health teams, social workers and social prescribers in the community and so we’ve been referred individuals who are living in homes that are really below standard, but they physically aren’t able or can’t afford to fix them, so we’ve had funding through donations but also through a platform called Acts 435 where we can advocate for the individuals. So, we are fixing carpets, we are painting walls, we are clearing out people’s homes. We’ve got a skip that was donated by a skip company, and we can fill that up with all the stuff that people can’t get rid of.”
Abri Housing Community Development Officer, Jess Tarrant, said, “We’ve been partnering with Saint Mary’s Church for a while. We have been able to provide some funding for them in the past and I think it’s great that the volunteers have come along today. We have a few pest issues here and some of the residents can’t do their gardens, so it’s been great that they have been able to have their gardens cut back and others are doing a litter pick around the communal areas as well. It’s just a witness to the community that people are there to help and give up their time free of charge which is great.”
In the church grounds at Chapel Road, a community family fun day was organised with a bouncy castle, arts and crafts, obstacle course and soft play area for toddlers. Members of the church’s Meeting Place café served drinks with sofas and rugs set up for people to meet and relax.
The church had dropped leaflets through nearby homes and into local schools to tell them about the day.
Mum Alpa attended with her two daughters aged 7 and 10 years old after receiving a leaflet from the school. She said, “It’s a great idea because people get to know each other and the children enjoy the day. It develops their confidence with building friendships and makes them feel part of the community.”
Events were also taking place at Saint Mary’s in Lodge Road. There were activities for the children including a bouncy castle and face painting. A free café had been set up on the roadside with drinks and cakes for visitors and those walking past.
Derryn Robinson, a member of Saint Mary’s Lodge Road, said, “Today is basically an outreach, to help reach out into the local community and local schools and to say we’re here to value people, to draw people in, to say welcome. People are saying to us that they feel welcomed and that it’s so nice to have something here. It’s a very mixed area so there are lots of students, lots of international families, we have a group of women who come from a refuge for domestic abuse, we’ve got alcohol rehabilitation units around the corner and there’s a homeless charity that has some housing nearby. My heart is for the community and that’s how we show God’s love by serving others.”
The day also introduced visitors to church activities. The Bridge the Gap football project and members of the youth team led games in a nearby park.
A community lunch was laid on for church members and guests. Roshni George was on the team catering for 200 people. Roshni said, “It’s important to us because this is a way we can reach out to our community, and we can open our doors for people to come and to just get to know us and we get to know each other. People have come together because they want to help and serve.”
Funding for the Saints in the City day came from the church and grants, the Acts 345 advocacy platform and SCRATCH, a local charity set up to alleviate poverty.
Sophie-Rose added, “I think as a church we’re called to serve the community that we’re in and if we’re always in the building then we’ll never be seen. Our mission at the church is following the way of Jesus, playing our part in seeking the renewal of the city. We’re called to serve, and this is a great way to serve. It’s a Saturday and it’s sunny and you can be outside serving. It can’t be better.”
She continued, “Just imagine if we had every church doing something like this across the city and across the country, that there was one day or multiple days where you went out and just put on some fun, I think it would just show the church is alive and there for the community so that’s why we do it.”
