St Peter’s Willersey with Saintbury parish has recently produced a Welcome Café Recipe Book, developed out of the weekly Welcome Café held in St Peter’s Church.
The Welcome Café was created and is led by a member of the St Peter’s worshipping community, Sally Maclean, and is supported by her husband Malcolm. The couple previously ran a café in Minehead and so are seasoned professionals.
In October, Sally proposed producing a recipe book featuring cakes and dishes served at the café. The book went on sale in time for Christmas.
“As an evangelist at heart, I’m always on the lookout for opportunities to share the good news of the gospel. So, when a friend at church suggested a cookbook, I saw the perfect chance to bring together my love of sharing faith with the good food of the Welcome Café,” Sally said.
“Visitors to the Welcome Café were always asking for our recipes, so producing a cookbook was a wonderful way to gather them all together, and to raise funds for our church at the same time. With Christmas approaching at the time, I hoped it might make a good gift — and that’s certainly proved to be the case. Not only are people enjoying trying out the recipes at home, they’re also delighted to know that each purchase helps support the preservation of Saint Peter’s.”
The Welcome Café takes place every Thursday from 2pm to 4.30pm in St Peter’s Church and has been running since the end of February 2023. It serves tea and coffee, including barista-style coffee made using a machine that Sally helped fund, alongside homemade cakes, biscuits and savouries. Refreshments are offered without charge, with donations invited in support of the church.
The recipe book has had input from others who attend the café, as well as support from diocesan Stewardship and Giving Advisor Lisa-Jayne Lewis who volunteered some time to the project.
“It was a joy to be able to support the cookbook,” said Lisa-Jayne. “It’s such an important part of the local mission of the church.”
The cover of the Welcome Café Recipe Book was designed by a young student who volunteers at the café, and the project had encouragement from the Revd Jodie Ward, who was a regular presence at the Welcome Café prior to her maternity leave, offering opportunities for informal conversation as a priest. To date, around 100 copies have been sold.
“Something that strikes a chord with me is the idea that cooking is an act of love and that spirit lies at the heart of our Welcome Café,” said Robert McNeil-Wilson, Churchwarden at Saint Peter’s, Willersey with Saintbury. “It offers hospitality freely; people donate if they wish. It’s a space for sharing, community, for people to feel at home in their church. And the recipe book makes that tangible. It’s something you can hold, use, and share, and it reminds people of our beautiful church.”
The Welcome Café is staffed entirely by volunteers and typically attracts 50 to 60 people per session, including residents, visitors, and people from neighbouring parishes. Many attendees are young parents or guardians with children, with children’s Christian-themed craft activities (supervised by Reader, Carolynne Adam) running alongside the café. It has also hosted special events including a VE Day celebration and a first-anniversary event. Its second anniversary was on Thursday (26 February).
“It’s always great when someone finds a fresh way for us to serve and engage with parishioners. I knew Sally and her volunteers would make it a success, knowing her skill and enthusiasm — but it’s exceeded even my expectations. And it was a particular delight when it started to draw in families with school children,” Robert said.
If you are interested in buying a copy of the recipe book, or would like to find out more information, Sally Maclean can be contacted at moc.l1773162519iamg@1773162519naelc1773162519amas.1773162519e1773162519.
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