StMM has been awarded a diocesan grant to set up
The Heartbeat Café.
The current Alcove area of the Church Centre Foyer
will be re-designed and refurbished.
 

Its purpose is fourfold:

• To use it as a Worship Venue to help grow a brand new Sunday evening congregation within the "Starbucks generation" of 15-35 year-olds.
  This 7pm service started up in February '08. It has already grown to an average of 75 people. Café Worship is a Fresh Expression of church that has proved very popular and a permanent area Café will be invaluable.
   
• To give a focal meeting point to some of the existing outreach and ministry of the church
  A whole range of activities/user groups will benefit: Alpha meals, Men @ St.Mary's (breakfast meetings and outreach evenings), Mother's Union meetings, Holiday @ Home, Extreme Knitting, Monday Lunch Fellowship, Friday Youth Group, plus all the Sunday services with refreshments.
   
• Develop the Conference/Hospitality facilities at St.Mary's
  A dedicated hospitality area adds to the great facilities that are regularly used to run or host conferences (anything from a couple of hours to a whole week). With the installation of some PA equipment the Café area can be used for smaller conferences/meetings.
   
• To provide a financially sustainable Café as a social meeting point for both church and non-church-based users
  St.Mary's Church Centre is one of the most used community buildings in the parish, with regular lettings to a dozen non-church groups, as well numerous church groups.
  We also have an extensive network of 1-to-1 adult/youth mentoring. Child Protection legislation means that mentoring meetings have to take place in a public area - at present the cafes of Sale!
   

 
The Café successfully opened on Tuesday 31st March.

It is now open every Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00am-1:00pm, including school holidays.