This Spring, Coventry All Saints: St Margaret’s, Ball Hill, opened the doors to its new Community Hub in partnership with Destination Ball Hill, the local neighbourhood action group. The hub is based in the newly refurbished south aisle of St Margaret’s, a space renewed through grants raised by the Revd Pam Howell, with support from Andy Duncan, the recently retired Diocesan Church Buildings Funding Support Officer.
The launch marked an important moment for the church and the wider Ball Hill community. The Community Hub was formally opened by Deputy Lord Lieutenant Pauline Black, well known as a member of two-tone ska band, ‘The Selecter’, and Rachel Lancaster, who was then Lord Mayor of Coventry. They were joined by Harmony Family Hub and ten other support organisations, including Clothing Coventry, 3Ps parenting support, Coventry Credit Union and the NHS, all of whom came together to share the support available locally. St Margaret’s also serves as a Foodbank referral agency.
At the heart of the hub is a desire to welcome and support local families. Harmony Family Hub now work from the Community Hub alongside St Margaret’s weekly Stay & Play sessions, which take place on Monday mornings during term time. Together, they are helping to create a friendly and accessible place where families can find encouragement, practical support and connection.
The new hub builds on St Margaret’s long-standing commitment to reaching out into the community. Throughout the year, the church offers a range of opportunities for people of all ages to gather, learn and belong. These include monthly Messy Church, a live animal Christmas Nativity, a Summer Brunch Club for families during the school holidays, and Wonder & Worship, a monthly gathering for children aged 0–7 and their families. The church also runs a Small Group Pilgrim Course on Wednesday mornings and hosts PACT meetings, giving local residents the chance to meet their neighbourhood police team and talk about concerns in the area.
That spirit of welcome was especially clear last month, when St Margaret’s celebrated International Day. Parishioners and members of the local community shared an abundance food from many different countries, while dancing and singing filled the church with joy. The vibrant colours of diverse national dress helped everyone celebrate the richness of their different backgrounds and the shared identity they have as one large family of people in the Ball Hill community.
Care for creation is also becoming part of the story at St Margaret’s. As part of its Eco Church work, a gardening group has brought together church members and volunteers from Destination Ball Hill to transform overgrown garden beds on the north side of the church. Bright, colourful flowers now help attract pollinators and bees, while work is also underway to develop the south-side garden into a community space where vegetables, fruit and herbs can be grown and shared.