Swansea Minster has taken worship beyond its walls, setting up a pop-up church in the city’s indoor market after building work forced the cathedral to close for several weeks.
The initiative began after cleaning work and the installation of new offices meant the Minster building had to be handed over to contractors. Rather than closing completely, the team relocated to Swansea Market, the largest indoor market in Wales, in an effort to remain visible and accessible in the heart of the city.
Canon Justin Davies, the vicar of Swansea Minster, told Premier Christian News the decision was about keeping the church open to the public.
He said they had faced a choice between “seven months of disruption or five weeks if we just closed the church completely”, and did not want to cut off people who regularly visited the Minster during the week.
The pop-up stall has been offering coffee, jigsaws, candles and prayer, creating what Davies described as something that “looks a bit like church, feels a bit like church”.
He said the number of visitors had grown steadily, adding: “We’re having great faith conversations with people coming along asking about faith, asking about baptism, asking about the way that we can help them in their lives.”
Davies said being based in the market helped remove barriers for those uncomfortable entering a traditional church building. By meeting people in a familiar setting, he said the team was able to listen to concerns, offer prayer, and provide a quiet space away from the bustle of shopping.
The stall was open every day, including Saturdays, and Davies described it as “taking church right out into the community of Swansea”, allowing the Minster to continue its ministry despite the temporary closure of its historic building.