Connecting People at St Martin’s Church, Knowle
Case Study: Café Reconnect at St Martin’s Church, Knowle
Café Reconnect at St. Martin’s Church is all about togetherness —a space where everyone can feel connected, welcome, and understood.
The concept is simple but powerful: a community café where anyone can come, enjoy a meal, stay warm, and, most importantly, find companionship.
“We want a space where people can reconnect in our community. It’s a space for everyone in the community whether you normally come to church or not” says Rev. Phil Manning
This isn’t just a café; it’s a place where people can be themselves. Café Reconnect’s pay-as-you-can model means there are no barriers, whether someone is struggling financially or just looking for a friendly face.
“People can come and have a bowl of soup or a sandwich and pay what they’re able. And if that’s nothing, that’s okay too.”
For many visitors, the café offers a much-needed escape from isolation, a warm space to be with others, and a welcoming community to share a meal.
Friendships form naturally, and people often find themselves opening up in a way they wouldn’t elsewhere. “Sometimes, people will talk about things that are hard—like someone who recently lost their mum. It’s easier in this setting, just talking over a cup of tea, and it feels more comfortable than a formal church space.”
The café was born from combining two programs: a "Warm Space" café started last winter to help locals keep warm during the rising cost-of-living crisis, and an earlier café called Café Connect, which ran before COVID.
For some, Café Reconnect is the only place they can keep warm, relax, and talk to others. The café gives them a rare opportunity to socialise in a place that feels comfortable and safe, free from the stress of worrying about what they can or cannot afford.
Funding is needed to help keep the café warm, particularly in January and February when energy costs peak and the temperatures are coldest. Looking ahead, the team hopes Café Reconnect will continue to grow as more people hear about it and drop in.
Over the course of the winter, they anticipate around 300 visits from about 60 unique individuals — all coming to find not only a warm space but also the warmth of friendship.
Café Reconnect is a place built by the community, for the community, where everyone brings something of themselves to share.
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