Church Swaps Pulpit For Pints

A Church in Hull is to hold services in a pub, and will return the favour by transforming its nave into a bar for a real ale festival.

Holy Trinity Church is set to hold a monthly worship meeting in a local pub, which is itself a converted Seaman’s Mission Chapel.

While congregants will continue to enjoy their usual Sunday morning meetings, they will also be able to attend a more informal monthly gathering, complete with live music, videos and of course drinks, at nearby pub ‘The Mission’.

The monthly services, called ‘Full’ are the brain child of pioneer curate Matt Woodcock, 35, a former newspaper reporter who arrived in Hull six months ago with a brief to find new and creative ways of getting the gospel message across to the general public.

"Traditional church services can be daunting and an alien environment for some people," he said.

"The Mission is an ideal venue for us to try something different."

The name ‘Full’ is taken from Jesus words about having life to the full (John 10:10), and reflects the open and inclusive nature of the new format.

While Holy Trinity’s 11am service will be relatively ‘high’ church in style, ‘Full’ will be much more laid back, informal, and intimate.

"Full will feel like much more of a social gathering," Rev Woodcock added.

"It will feel like you're having a good time at someone's house, rather than at a church service.

"The beauty is, there is room to be creative.”

Reverend Dr Neal Barnes, who heads the clergy team at Holy Trinity, said: "We want to be a church that goes out and doesn't just expect people to come to us.

Although alcohol will not be served during services, tipplers will be able to drink cups of tea and coffee, and munch on doughnuts.

The first service will be held on Sunday, January 29, at 4pm and every last Sunday of the month from then on.

And meanwhile Holy Trinity is also preparing to host a 3-day Real Ale festival in the spring, as part of a wider selection of community oriented activities.