After 18 months of hard work by Sam, Jenny and Paul we are opening our coffee shop at Trinity Methodist Church. It has been a hard slog at times with various obstacles to overcome.
We have gone for a rebranding of TAM4 which is Trinity Ancoats Manchester 4 this firmly places the building in the community in having the postcode included. “Part of the Manchester Methodist Circuit” is included over the branding going over the front door is different branding to the Coffee Shop and associated groups that will be created like the knit and natter will have TAM4. Thanks also need to go to Karen at Central Hall for help with the logo production and branding format.
The ethos of the coffee shop will be of sustainability, recycling, the environment and God’s creation of which we a part at its heart. This has been influenced through things that have been reclaimed from things at Trinity and Clayton Methodist Church Building. The tables were free from a coffee shop in the Lake District that was having a refurb and other pieces of furniture are from places like Emmaus or the Recycling Centre shops. The mugs and plates are in the colours of the branding and are bespoke made by a local potter and have the TAM4 branding on them. The white goods are ones which have damage marks or been reconditioned. The coffee machine and ethically grown coffee came from a company in Rochdale and was leased out by them and then reconditioned and sold to us. The engineer who came to fit it said that it looked just like new. It is very shiny! Things like the lights, ceiling, flooring are all new and were sourced locally and fitted by local tradespeople, we have tried to get as much as we can without having to buy new things.
The aim is to provide a great atmosphere, great drinks and cake at reasonable prices with a pay it forward scheme in operation.
Along with the coffee shop we hope to do a lending library, a repair café, makers markets etc which helps support recycling, the local economy and local producers.
We are opening the coffee shop Tuesday-Friday 10-2pm with occasional Saturday special event opening. We are exploring working in partnership where we can with others in the area and looking to start other groups. The relationships we build with people who come to the coffee shop and groups will then in turn enable us to have those conversations about faith, spirituality and into discipleship.
Feel free to pop in for a great tasting, reasonably priced coffee and cake we would love to see you. If you would like to volunteer for a couple of hours then have a word with Rev Paul Welch. pwelch@manchestermethodists.org.uk or TAM4coffee@manchestermethodists.org.uk
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