The church goes for hospitality

The cathedral in Birmingham is to become the first in the UK to become more businesslike, first on the cards will be the introduction of church going loyalty cards and a chain of wine bars.

These are the ideas created by the newly appointed Director of Hospitality and Welcome, Mark Hope-Urwin, who gained his experience as a top executive with retail chain John Lewis.

Mr Hope-Urwin said: "We're not trying to encourage drinking, but the cathedral has to engage more with the city and find ways of meeting people on their territory.

"Cathedral wine bars should be seen as a potential commercial operation with profits going into the upkeep of the building and paying for evangelistic work.

This isn't about turning the cathedral into a big money-making machine, but we have to think of how we can change and spread the brand.

"We are in a competitive environment. People have all kinds of distractions in their busy lives and at the moment too many just see the cathedral as a big brick monolith. That has to change if we are to bring people in."

The plans have yet to be approved by the members of the church, where it would seem that the opinion could be divided.

The Very Rev Christopher Lewis, the chairman of the Association of English Cathedrals, welcomed the proposals. "We have to be willing to embrace change to keep places going," he said.

"As long as it's done carefully, wine bars are a good idea as they bring people in and are a good meeting place."

The Rev David Phillips, the general secretary of the Church Society, a traditionalist group, said: "Opening wine bars doesn't seem an appropriate way to generate money.

"People who attend church should give more so that this doesn't have to happen. The idea of the Church getting involved with selling alcohol will worry people."

Source [Telegraph]