This is a text-only version of an article first published on Tuesday, 21 April 2015. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
SANCTUARY at the Minster Church of St Mary the Virgin is offering Reading's pub and club-goers refuge, recovery and refreshment in the midst of the town's hectic night scene.
With a name that could almost be the chill-out zone of a night club, Sanctuary is being piloted at the Minster between 10. 00pm on Saturday nights and 2. 00am on Sunday mornings.
The initiative is run by volunteers from the church in partnership with the Reading Street Pastors.
The Revd Stephen Pullin, the Rector of the Minster, said: "Some of our visitors come into the candlelit Minster looking for a contemplative space or simply out of curiosity; they can relax on the bean bags listening to a mixture of club soundtracks, monastic chanting and other contemporary music, or watch the films projected high up on the walls.
"Others take the opportunity to pray or seek out a pastoral or spiritual conversation." Not all the Minster's visitors are having a great night out.
The Street Pastors might bring in the 'emotionally walking wounded' or people who have over-imbibed and whose greatest need is a coffee, a piece of toast or a bucket.
It's not always a pretty sight but it's a safe place for young people to be until their parents can pick them up or a taxi home can be arranged.
Stephen added: "On our busiest night we've had 150 visitors, the great majority of whom are unchurched people.
"We're offering practical help and a physical space but the themes of refuge, recovery and refreshment also work on a spiritual level.
Contemporary club culture includes a search for transcendence and transformation.
At the Minster we're offering people the opportunity to come in and experience the real thing."