St Mark's Church

Belonging: Arts and Community 

Who we are:
St Mark’s Church in New Milverton, is a long-established, inclusive church at the heart of its local community, serving the area for over 140 years. Alongside our worshipping life, we are committed to practical care, hospitality, and building spaces where people feel seen, valued, and able to belong. We have particular experience working with older and vulnerable people through our weekly café, monthly lunch club, and informal befriending, and through Art at St Mark’s, which brings faith and creativity together in accessible ways.
We are rooted in listening to our community. Many of those we serve are living with bereavement, reduced mobility, long-term health conditions, or limited family support. We believe that what people long for most is connection: to others, to meaning, and to something life-giving.

This project:
Loneliness and social isolation are growing challenges for elderly and vulnerable people in our area. While our existing activities are well valued, demand is increasing and our current volunteer-led model is stretched. At the same time, we have seen how creative activity—storytelling, art, music, and shared reflection—can unlock confidence, joy, and spiritual wellbeing, particularly for people who may not engage with traditional church activities.

Belonging: Arts and Community responds to this need by bringing together community care and creative engagement. It recognises that wellbeing is not only practical, but emotional and spiritual, and that creativity can be a powerful pathway to dignity, hope, and belonging.

What we will do:
Over two years, the project will strengthen and extend our work with elderly and vulnerable people by introducing sessional staff to support outreach, volunteer coordination, and creative programming. We will expand access to our café, lunch club, and befriending provision, including transport support for those with mobility challenges, and develop a more structured befriending network offering regular calls and visits.

Alongside this, we will integrate Art at St Mark’s into our outreach through gentle, participatory creative sessions such as reminiscence-based art, storytelling, and music. Working in partnership with local GPs, social prescribers, and community connectors, we will focus on reaching those most isolated. A key aim of the project is sustainability: building volunteer capacity, systems, and partnerships that enable this work to continue beyond the funded period.
 

For more information please see St Mark's website by clicking here.