Holy Grounds, a trendy café and doughnut shop, has just opened its 4th location right nextdoor to Wigan Parish Church, offering a fresh space for people to meet, enjoy good coffee and connect with the local community.
The Wigan café marks a new chapter for Holy Grounds as its first location situated alongside a church, and the first to open within the Diocese of Liverpool. Founded by Sam and his wife, Holy Grounds now has four locations, bringing its Christian ethos and approach to hospitality everywhere it goes.
From Vicar to Café Owner
Holy Grounds was founded by Sam Haigh and his wife Hannah, bringing together Sam’s experience in ministry with a new approach to Christian hospitality and community.
Before starting the business, Sam was a Church of England vicar who had worked in churches across the country, giving him a strong background in parish ministry and an understanding of the role churches can play at the heart of their communities. Three years ago, he was based at Preston Minster, where he helped attract new church communities by introducing music and exploring ways of connecting God’s word with contemporary topics and everyday life.
His experience has shaped the vision behind Holy Grounds: creating welcoming spaces where people can meet and connect, with a Christian ethos at the heart of the business.
Investing in a space that supports the parish
The Wigan Holy Grounds has been developed with support from the Diocese of Liverpool’s building team, who have worked alongside the parish to help fund and develop the space.
The café is situated in a separate space alongside the church, allowing the church itself to continue its worship and ministry while making productive use of the wider site.
New Income in Action
The Holy Grounds partnership is a great example of the Diocese’s New Income work in action- helping parishes make the most of their buildings and spaces, explore new opportunities and develop sustainable partnerships that support mission and ministry.
Rachael Tallon from the Buildings Team, who led the project, said:
“We’re so excited that Holy Grounds has chosen Wigan Parish Church as its fourth location. This is a brilliant example of how our churches can work collaboratively to make better use of our buildings and spaces, generate sustainable income to support mission and ministry, and at the same time create something that brings real value to the local community.”
Through its New Income work, the Buildings Team supports parishes to identify opportunities that can strengthen their financial sustainability while bringing more people into church buildings and creating wider community benefit.
For more information, visit: holygrounds.co.uk
