A SPIRITUAL drop-in for late-night revellers will be re-launched – in a new location

Volunteer Chris Richardson engages with one of the prayer installations in the new entrance at St Jude's Church, Southsea

Friday Fridge will still happen at St Jude’s Church in Southsea, but will switch to the newly-opened entrance foyer facing the top of Palmerston Road from July 16.

The glass-fronted entrance was officially opened in June by the Commissary Bishop of Portsmouth after a major refurbishment of the building.

There will be a re-launch event on July 16 before the new entrance doors are thrown open to Friday Fridge guests for the first time from 10.30pm until 1am. It will then happen every first and third Friday night of the month - with a plan to open every Friday eventually.

Friday Fridge was originally launched in 2006 to provide a spiritual chillout for those on their way home from pubs and clubs in the area. Free coffee and food was available in a café zone, with video projections and prayer installations helping visitors to engage with God in an encounter zone. Passers-by were often delighted to see the church open so late at night and would pop in to light a candle, say a prayer, or chat to volunteers about faith or personal issues.

The re-launched Friday Fridge will involve free coffee and toasted sandwiches in the new entrance, with a chance to engage with God via prayer installations further inside the church. That might involve writing or drawing prayers, lighting candles or responding to video projections while ambient music plays.

One of the organisers, Jim Campbell, said: “The new entrance at St Jude’s is ideal for Friday Fridge. The glass frontage means passers-by can see exactly what’s happening inside and we think they’ll be tempted to pop in for a chat or to say a prayer.

“Over the three and a half years we’ve been running Friday Fridge, hundreds of people have taken advantage of the fact that the church is open at a time that is convenient for them. Some people have become regulars, some might only ever visit once. Some are just grateful for a coffee, while others have told us incredibly moving stories about their life or faith. It’s a real privilege to be able to listen to them and hopefully help with any difficulties they are facing.”

The formal opening of the new entrance on June 30 marked the completion of the first phase of an ambitious, two-phase £2.4m project to re-develop the 159-year-old Victorian building. The church aims to be at the heart of the Southsea community – with its new glass-fronted entrance facing the shopping precinct, and new kitchens, toilets and community rooms.

Worshippers raised almost £1m for this phase, through sacrificial giving, grants and donations. While the work was happening, they continued to hold services and host Friday Fridge in the church, although some midweek groups and Sunday School groups met elsewhere.

The second phase will involve moving the worship area to a new first floor and creating community rooms underneath. Its facilities can then be used for sport, catering, conferences, theatre and music performances, youth events and meetings, as well as worship. The current chancel will become a day chapel, which will be open all day to passers-by.

St Jude’s Church is now open to visitors from 10am-4pm every weekday, and also on Saturday mornings. In the first week, 190 passers-by dropped in, as well as worshippers, community groups, and 60 visitors for a regional Alpha conference.