Ely: St Mary's Church is the district's latest warm space

St Mary’s Church, in Ely, first opened its doors as a warm space last month and says it has seen more people attending. 

Phil Marsh, team vicar at St Mary’s Church, said “People set up warm hubs in response to cold weather and there has been a perceived need for them.” 

The church spoke to Cambridgeshire ACRE, who coordinate 13 warm hubs in East Cambridgeshire, about working together during the winter. 

But the charity told St Mary’s that they were limited to running their existing warm hubs, which they run on behalf of East Cambridgeshire District Council. 

St Mary's Church in Ely has seen more people attending its warm space since it first opened in January. (Image: Liz Sayers)

“Cambridgeshire ACRE had no capacity for a further project, so we decided to press on ourselves,” said Mr Marsh. 

“We thought it was worth doing because these projects are all over the district and felt there was a space where people may need to make the most of.” 

READ MORE: £1m transformation of church almost complete

Visitors to the warm space are offered tea, coffee and biscuits, as well as games and craft activities. 

Some of those who have attended include parents with young children and those who are homeless, with people of all ages welcome. 

And Mr Marsh believes that the warm space, open on Wednesdays between 9am-12.30pm, can allow St Mary’s Church to establish itself as a multi-purpose building. 

“Our ambition for St Mary’s is to open seven days a week, not just on Sundays so it’s more multi-use,” he said. 

“Where there is an opportunity to give people a chance to come together, we want other groups to partner with us.” 

Mr Marsh added: “The church has just completed a transformation into a beautiful warm space and we want to see it shared with as many people as possible.”