Last month, St Augustine of Canterbury in Even Swindon and St Paul's Church in Southville were featured on a BBC article, after they kept their buildings open during the July heatwave.
Carrie Woollatt, a member of St Augustine’s wanted to open the building so people could seek refuge from the heat, whether they couldn’t cool down at home or were just passing by and needed a rest.
Revd Jo Sales, vicar of St Augustine’s said, ‘We have a wonderful space which isn’t used a great deal during the day at the moment, and having the door open is something we need to do more. Not just for those of us who come to worship, but anyone in our local community. We opened 9am-6pm and had half a dozen visitors each day, and even the local cats sought shade too!’
In the article, Rev Jacqui Kean, vicar of St Paul's, said, ‘The current recommendation is to stay indoors, however for those who may be experiencing heat or loneliness in their homes, the church is a safe space for refreshment and socialising.’
Both churches intend to keep their buildings open throughout the summer.
You can read the full BBC article here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-62205348