An Ipswich church is conducting monthly services in Spanish – so Hispanic members of the congregation can worship in their native language. All Saints Church, in Chevallier Street, held its first service in May which was attended by more than 20 adults and children.
The Revd Danny Morrison, who is Chilean himself, said the event was a huge success and is looking forward to the next monthly service.
He said: “It was lovely, everyone was overjoyed to be there. With so many people with such a diverse range of church backgrounds, there was a really good buzz about the place.”
The idea was the vision of the Revd John Battman, who died in 2019, and had worked as a missionary in several Spanish speaking countries over the years. He was instrumental in the service coming together, planting the seed of the idea and reaching out to Spanish speakers in the community before his death. Tributes were paid to Mr Battman during the service which was attended by his wife and daughter.
The Revd Morrison said he was coming across an increasing number of Spanish speakers in the area, many from the Americas. He said many were vulnerable and open to exploitation and that the church provided a safe and trusted place for them to worship. “We felt this was something we needed to do,” he said. “It was going to be hard work but it’s such an important thing to do. It was wonderful for those attending to hear the words of God expressed in their own language. We were able to reflect on God being with us no matter what our story or where we come from.”
Services are currently limited to 30 people due to Covid-19 restrictions, although the Revd Morrison is looking forward to more attending when the country fully reopens. The Spanish services are held on the first Sunday of the month at 6.00pm.
For more information about All Saints Church, visit www.allsaintsipswich.com