AS the first families step through the door, they’re met with the lip-smacking smell of honey-glazed chicken being cooked.

The tiniest children start playing with toys on the playmat, while their brothers and sisters colour in pictures, and their parents grab a coffee. In a few moments, they’ll all sit down for a hearty cooked meal.

Pioneer minister the Rev Tim Watson invites them to think about the emotional and spiritual baggage that weighs them down, as he stuffs symbolic items into a real suitcase. Then everyone is given the chance to write down on a luggage label the issues they’d like God to deal with. Children and adults then tie the labels to a wooden cross in the church.

This is Leesland Neighbourhood Church, a brand new congregation that meets at 4.30pm on Sundays in St Faith’s Church, Gosport. Pioneer minister the Rev Tim Watson has been appointed with a brief to create new worshipping communities, and this is the first new congregation he has launched.

He gathered together a small team from local churches to create the new congregation in February at the tiny mission church in Tribe Road, Gosport. Around 20 or 25 people now get together each Sunday afternoon for an hour or so.

It’s designed to appeal to those who might not normally go to church, and the usual format is coffee and chat, followed by a shared meal to build up relationships. Then there’ll be a brief talk or presentation or a shared activity with a spiritual theme.

“About half of the people who come have never been to church before, or haven’t been to church for years,” said Tim. “Some of them have links with Leesland schools, or they have family members who attend church, or they just live locally.

“Hopefully what we can offer is something that builds up the local community and gives them a chance to think about spiritual issues. We also want to join in with what local people are already doing to help build up the community of Leesland.”

Becky Knight, who attends with her daughter Eve, said: “I’m actually Roman Catholic, and Eve used to go to church every Sunday morning. But Sunday afternoon is actually more convenient.

“I’m not that churchy, but it’s good for Eve to hear about what Easter is and so on, and it’s good for us to be involved with something in the local community. It’s also nice to eat with other people.”

The new congregation has also launched Leesland Bumblebees, a toddler group which meets each Wednesday from 9am to 10:30am at St Faith's Church.