The Venue

The Venue Café Church @ Plume Avenue

The Venue has been running on the first Sunday of the month for more than two years now. It seeks to provide an informal style of Church in a café setting suitable for all ages and abilities. Its vision is to provide a place where the Christian faith can be explored in a non-threatening environment through a variety of creative activities. These are always optional, and space is provided for people to relax in the café, read the paper or chat to friends.

The Venue runs from 3:30pm-5:15pm. The church is cleared and transformed into a café setting with small tables covered in cloths and vases of flowers. The café is open throughout and no charge is made. A range of drinks is provided, and wherever possible Fair Trade products are used.

A typical Venue starts with an ice-breaker activity for the children linked to the theme. Older young people have the opportunity during this time to play basket - ball in one of the back halls. Adults can ‘chill’ over a coffee! After a short while we gather together and the theme is introduced. An action song may well follow this for the children. A choice of four or five activities is then provided lasting approximately thirty minutes. These generally include lively team games, a craft relating to the theme, an opportunity for discussion, a dance/music style workshop or a time to stay in the café area and chat or read a paper. It is not our intention to put pressure on anyone to join in with something if they do not wish. Later we come back together and build on what we have experienced ending with a time of worship where we provide ribbons , streamers or flags for those who want to express themselves in a visual way. During this time we provide refreshments.

The Venue has grown in many ways since its early beginnings in September 2004. We now have numbers regularly exceeding one hundred. Many who come, return month after month. We are receiving very positive comments from parents and carers who come with children who have special needs. We are also learning ourselves as a team to try new things, particularly as we use the latest technology.

We look forward to seeing you!

All children must be accompanied by an adult