It’s a great time of year to welcome the wider community to your church family. We find out how some of Steelplan’s featured Churches use their kitchens to celebrate at Christmas time.

Carols, mulled wine and plenty of mince pies
“This Christmas, we’re providing an extended tea (between 3pm and 8.30pm) for the local community and those who travel from up to 100 miles away for the annual Carol Service, followed by mulled wine and mince pies. We usually host around 250 people.

Then on Tuesday 19th, the Church family is hosting all Key Stage 2 parents and children from our local primary school (thanks to the kitchen) for mulled wine, juice and mince pies following the children’s Key Stage 2 Carol service. That’s up to 300 adults and children!”
Pippa Ross McCabe, St Mary’s Byfleet

Christmas tree festival
“One week after the kitchen was fitted last year, we hosted our Christmas tree festival, then in January we decided to have a traditional Burns Night supper for 90 people. Three courses, including haggis! The food was made off-site and warmed in the unit. It was a huge success.”
Revd Joanna Abecassis, Holy Trinity Church, Bradford on Avon

Christmas dinner, for 40 or more!
“The team at St Joseph’s Havant host a Christmas dinner every year for around 40 people in the church family. Having a new kitchen has really helped them to cope with the endless flow of tea and coffee at the busiest time of the year. “We used to have to boil kettles to make tea for everyone, which took ages and was actually dangerous. Now we have instant hot water available to make tea and coffee on demand, no matter how many people there are to drink it.”
Julia Corps, Head of the Hall Committee, St Joseph’s Havant