Grimsby church opens new worship and community space

The church in Grimsby is 're-pitching the Salvation Army tent' on its original 1888 Duncombe Street site in East Marsh following redevelopment.

The worship centre has been reconfigured to include community kitchen training rooms and a coffee lounge, which is open to the public. The first phase of redevelopment is complete, with further work to be carried out to develop more community space.

The church and charity will provide a space for people to meet for coffee and cake, a listening ear, and link up with different services and worship events throughout the week.

Major Alison Gardner, who leads the church with her husband, Major Kenny, said:  "After running a limited programme from St Andrew's Methodist Church in Cleethorpes, who very kindly allowed us to share their space, we are delighted to be returning to Grimsby Salvation Army’s original home in the East Marsh area.

"We are looking forward to sharing our space with local people and families, connecting them with services, and providing access to the internet for those applying for jobs, housing, or benefits. We will also offer a listening ear, spiritual guidance, and support. 

“There's a real bounce and energy about the project. The Salvation Army slogan of 'Soup, Soap, and Salvation' will guide future work and allow us to join in with some of the great projects already happening in East Marsh.

“We have a vision and think we can produce something good by working with the community and other agencies in the area, such as Safe Families and Churches Together. We want it to be a place where we empower, resource, and inspire, giving a hand up rather than a handout.”

The building is close to The Salvation Army's Lifehouse, Booth House, which offers supported accommodation to people who are homeless. It can also be a neutral and safe space for service users to meet with their families, reconnect, and build relationships.

Major Alison added: "There is a lot of potential for the future. We have an ample space that will not be filled straight away, but we want to get back into the community, see how it feels, see what is needed, and work out where we can join in. There will be a lot of reflection in the months to come. We will be guided by the community and invite them to share their ideas of what they would like to see in phase two of our redevelopment. 

 "It feels really emotional. People have a lot of memories and stories about the old building, and we want to hear those stories. History is great, although God’s mission is to be a force for the future." 

Palm Sunday Worship will be held this Sunday (10 April) at 10.30am.

The first Maundy Thursday event on 14 April at 7pm, organised by Booth House, will feature magician Rod Williams, who will incorporate magic with a message of hope, healing and a lost and broken life transformed through faith in Jesus Christ.

The coffee lounge will open to the public on Tuesday, 26 April. The community are invited to pop in for a look and will be able to buy coffee, tea, light snacks, and chat over past experiences with the Salvation Army in Grimsby.

For more information, please contact the Grimsby Corps on 01472 403348.