Christians are used to breaking bread together on a Sunday morning – but at All Saints, North Wootton, they share toast, crumpets, croissants, fruit, yogurt, cheese, boiled eggs, muffins and fresh coffee and tea.
Breakfast Church in North Wootton, near King’s Lynn, begins with a buffet breakfast, followed by a bible story and craft activity.
It is volunteer-run, by churchwarden Janet Keir, congregation member Carol Holbrook, and Licensed Lay Minister Margaret Ojelade who said:
“It’s for people of all ages who would like to experience church in a very relaxed and informal way. I was inspired by Soul Food Edinburgh and their vision dealing with the marginalised, and wanted one big table which we would all gather around and where anyone who came in would hopefully immediately feel part of a family, sharing a meal together and chatting.
“We don’t ask for donations towards the food because I want it to be our gift.
“People like the happy atmosphere, the companionship, and the food of course!
“The story is not normally read out but told informally and acted out with some visual props. It’s been said that the craft, which is suitable for children but many of the adults join in, helps absorb the story.”
Ahead of Easter every year Janet leads a particularly popular breakfast service, focused on making an Easter Garden.
The Church in the Woottons, launched Breakfast Church in 2022 after a similar village hall service was halted by the pandemic.
Margaret also became a Licensed Lay Minister in 2022, after working as an IT system manager for the NHS. Asked what she enjoyed about the role she said: “Feeling that I am serving Jesus by contributing and supporting the congregation and clergy.”
Volunteers from the Church in the Woottons also run coffee mornings and drop in sessions at North Wootton Village Hall for anyone interested in friendship, conversation and refreshments. The parish is also one of four partner churches running the King’s Lynn Debt Centre which works with Christians against Poverty.
Breakfast Church is every fortnight from 9-10am at All Saints, North Wootton, before the 10.30am Holy Communion service. The Sunday Holy Communion service alternates between All Saints and St Mary’s, South Wootton. More details at The Church in the Woottons