On 2nd November 2024, Leabrook Methodist Church in Wednesbury was amongst properties that were completely flooded by a burst water pipe. Sadly, this was not the first time this place of worship had been devasted by flooding, as six years previously, on April 1st 2018, the church was flooded by a burst water main and took almost a full year to be restored.
This time, the congregation were determined a few metres of water might well ruin the carpets but it was not going to dampen the spirits of the individuals within its now soggy walls from worshipping and serving the local community. After this second flood, it would have been so easy to give up on the community groups and possibly the building itself, thinking it was not meant to be, but nobody did. In fact, the absolute opposite happened. Everyone pulled together. The groups moved temporarily to neighbouring churches within the circuit, whilst the church building itself had a refurb and got ready to open its doors once again.
On a very wet, Wednesday morning, I went along to the Place of Welcome, known locally as Coffee and Crafters, run from Leabrook Church by Ian Palfreyman, Circuit Steward and wife Judi, to find out what determination, a belief in consistency and a “never give up” attitude can look like.
As soon as I walked into the room, I was made to feel immediately welcome. It was a hive of activity; with dominoes at the back, a game of scrabble ready to start in the centre and, at the front of the newly refurbished room, a huge table covered in all sorts of crafting materials and busy, talented fingers. Fresh coffee in hand, I joined Joe, Mick and Lorraine for a game of dominoes and a chat. Lorraine tells me her, and husband Mick, worship at Tipton Green church but have been coming to this Place of Welcome for about 2 years after Judi set up the crafting group and as “there is something for male guests too”. Whilst playing we chat and Joe, ‘the true Leabrookian’ tells me,
Joe, Danny and Mick |
“I’ve been coming to Leabrook since 1962 and have seen a lot of changes, not just the floods! We used to put on pantomimes and shows every year although I only started coming to this Place of Welcome with my wife since the craft group started.”
Like so many of the smiling faces elsewhere in the room, everyone around the table carried on attending when this group moved to New Road Church during the re-furb and it highlighted to me that it’s the individuals themselves and their stories that keep people coming back week after week and year after year.
“It’s like life, isn’t it?” says Mick “You don’t give up on life when something happens to you; you carry on.”
Heather, Barbara, Olena, Avril, Diane, Judi and Margaret |
Danny has been coming to Leabrook for 8 years, initially to worship on a Sunday before joining in other community activities, adding his daughter runs the keep fit group here each Tuesday and that
“We wouldn’t give up on this church; we love coming here! It’s magnificent coming here, and not just on a Wednesday, we look forward to meeting our friends. It’s a lovely bunch of people”.
Back at the crafting table, everyone is busy on individual craft projects, yet the chatter and laughter bring this group together as one. From bookmarks to embroidery, quilting to card making and a little bit of knitting thrown in too, I’m introduced to a group of talented ladies who are happy to tell me that’s it’s the company, the friendliness, the welcome and, of course, the crafting that sees them all meet here every week.
Judi tells me, as a circuit of 12 churches, Leabrook is trying to get involved in the wider community and, in some part, this craft group was initially set up at Leabrook to try and encourage other churches to get involved and run their own coffee mornings.
There is a real sense of community within these four walls. A mixture of those that have been attending for several years and those who have only been here a few weeks, worshippers at this church, another church, other faiths and non-worshippers; everyone is valued and welcomed and it’s easy to see why so many friendships have been made here.
Judi explains when the first flood happened in 2018, a significant proportion of the Sunday congregation were lost however adds
“This time, because we were very conscious of that, we have possibly made more effort to try and stay together as a community. A couple of our neighbouring churches very kindly helped; New Road Church offered a space for the mid-week groups, including the Place of Welcome, and Hill Top gave us a space where we could worship on a Sunday…..We did really try to keep our community together”
Olena |
Over the chatter and crafting, Olena tells me she has benefited so much from Leabrook and this group. Arriving in the UK from Ukraine two years ago with her family, including grandchildren aged 11 and 4 years old, Olena could not speak any English and was offered help by circuit leaders. During the last two years, Olena has studied English at a local College, completed an ESOL course and is now completing a functioning skills qualification to secure employment similar to that she had in the Ukraine; a Lecturer at University. Olena is very keen to improve her English skills, (although it is already at an incredible standard) and enjoys
“Chatting to the ladies; it is very interesting conversations and doing craft. They have taught me embroidery and are correcting my English mistakes!”
Olena went to a church in her home country and enjoys now coming to Leabrook and feels it has “great community spirit”. She is incredibly grateful of the support she has received and now, when needed, acts as a translator for other Ukrainian families that are in the local community and being supported; adding that “I always say to people ‘Never Give Up’”.
Eileen |
And that tenacity fills the hearts of everyone in the room that very kindly welcomed me into the Place of Welcome; including Eileen who has been coming to Leabrook since 1968! Having seen Eileen in the kitchen when I first arrived, she tells me she is very hands on within the church and local community; from making the coffee, doing the hoovering, welcoming people at the keep fit class and doing the gardening! She is proud to tell me stories of people she has met over the years, and it was clear this place means a lot to her and all within it.
There really is a feeling of refusing to give up and the feeling of positivity is contagious. I end my visit with another chat with Judi and learn more about how this most recent flood didn’t wash away the desire to help others and instead, brought together members of this church and the wider community too. Although not there today, a local elderly residents care home also bring guests to join in the group when they have staff and transport to facilitate this. Judi tells me consistency is key and they rarely close;
Ian |
“if we can’t be here, we do our upmost to arrange for someone else to host…we even came here to open when it was thick snow and it was just me, Ian and Avril (who lives next door to us!) …..people know we’re here and, whether they want to talk or not, or craft or play dominoes or not, it doesn’t matter, the doors are still open – even in the snow!”
So, don’t let the weather, (or even a flood), put you off going to a Place of Welcome near you! The Coffee and Crafters regularly welcome around 20 people through the doors each week and is open every Wednesday, 10.30am -1pm at Leabrook Methodist Church, Leabrook Road North, Wednesbury, WS10 7LY and today I was privileged to be one of them. Thank you to everyone for chatting, telling me your stories and, above all, making me feel so very welcome.
 |
 |
 |
 |