With rising energy prices and inflation, a Christian-led campaign to support churches and other community organisations open their doors and provide warm and welcoming spaces over winter launched in September.  

The aim of the Warm Welcome Campaign was to ensure that ‘in every single area of the UK a Warm Welcome Space is available to help turn someone’s difficulty into an opportunity to belong in their local context.’  

We supported the campaign, promoted its launch and encouraged Baptist churches opening their buildings in this way to register – and a total of 348 Baptist churches did just that. Our legal team also created a special guide to ensure a warm space was a safe space for all concerned.  

Little Stoke Baptist Church in Bristol opened its warm space in early November. As a small church it didn’t have the resources to staff it and so decided to open on days it was already in the building. On a Wednesday this meant creating a space while a Bible study is in another room, while on a Thursday the church extended its regular coffee morning to include a simple lunch of soup and bread. Everything was offered free.

The church sourced some furniture second hand and set up a cosy lounge space ‘where people can relax, play games, read a book, do a jigsaw or just chat over a cuppa,’ explained minister Tania Vaughan.

“What we quickly realised is that although they came for practical warmth, they talked about loneliness.

“The warmth that warm spaces really offer is not from the radiators but from being with others or having one meal where they don’t eat alone.

“It truly models being alongside those most in need just as Jesus would have.”   

The Warm Welcome campaign is an initiative of ChurchWorks, alongside a number of key partners such as Christians Against Poverty, Stewardship and Edge Ministries. ChurchWorks brings together major Christian denominations and the government, and launched in October 2021. Ahead of its launch, Steve Tinning, the Baptist Union Public Issues Enabler, said: “It has been a real privilege to be one of the Baptist Union’s representatives on the ChurchWorks Commission as they have developed this campaign and I commend it to our churches with enthusiasm.

“We have been hearing how Baptist churches up and down the country are mobilising to support those in greatest need over the coming months, but we are also aware that many churches are facing their own challenges with the cost of energy increasing so dramatically.

“Whether your church’s plans are already in full flow, or whether you are just wondering what might be possible, my hope is that you will consider signing up to the warmwelcome.uk campaign and be supported by your Baptist family and this wider gospel movement as, together, we demonstrate the love and compassion of Christ to so many through this difficult time.”