The Great Banquet

Last Saturday there was a banquet at Night Church and we did not spend a single penny on it - really! The week before the team had been praying and sensed that the theme for Night Church was to be celebration and banquet. However, without a budget for a banquet we decided to pray and ask God to provide one. Well God really does know how to provide a great feast. Local shops and businesses provided us with an abundance of cakes, sweets, sandwiches, sausage rolls and more. They were incredibly generous and we had such a great night. People were blessed by the food, amazed that it was all free and we saw God meet with people in a very special way. An astounding 130 people came through the door during the evening.

(Gill Reeve)

Worship as evangelism

Night Church is an informal and open time, there are no set times of teaching or prayer. However, throughout the evening the musicians minister through music having listened to God in the weeks leading up to the evening. Sometimes they sense a distinct focus for the music, and throughout the evening they seek to be sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Lighting candles draws people to God

Lighting candles in the Prayer Space is always well used by people. Sometimes people to choose to light a candle quietly and then leave. Often people talk about why they are lighting one, and it often leads to an opportunity to talk with people about God or pray with them. The team have been struck by how many people struggle with grief, and many cry as the team talk with them. Perhaps in our fast moving, hedonistic world there are few places where people have the space to work through the often long and difficult road that grief takes you on.

Night Church is Open!

Night Church is Open!

The banner and the lights outside help to advertise that Night Church is open. Most people are just passing by and decide to pop in. A few people have become regulars and stay for a long while. It has been great to make some new friends, I'll try to get a few to tell their stories here soon.

A welcoming and safe place

Inside St Peter's we set out a cafe area with low lighting, candles and music playing. Our aim is to bless those who come in by the way we greet them, serving them coffee and listening to them

Night Church

Welcome to the Night Church Blog! Night Church opened in December 2010 as a six month pilot. Based at St Peter's @ the Cross in Chester it is a bit of an experiment in terms of evangelism. Night Church is open on the second Saturday of the month from 9.30pm - 2am. It is staffed by volunteers from local churches as well as students and staff from The Light Project. Night Church has three central aims

• to be a place of welcome and safety


• to be a place of hospitality


• to be a place of spirituality

I had read about other Night Churches around the country and was intrigued to find out whether opening a church in the city centre at night would be a good opportunity to engage with people in a place where they naturally hang out. We have learnt a lot over the last few months and have had really wonderful conversations with people. So many people who come in are amazed that a church is open in the early hours of the morning, and many appreciate a place of peace in contrast to the noise and busyness of the streets outside. In June we will be finishing the pilot and then considering where God is leading us for the future.