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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Leona Greenan

Lanarkshire Reverend throws open church doors to help people cope with cost of living crisis

The doors of a historic Lanarkshire church have been thrown open as a minister bids to help his community deal with the cost of living crisis.

Bothwell Parish Church is offering people hot meals and shelter over the winter months.

And Rev. Iain Majcher swapped his pulpit for a PlayStation to launch the project at the 14th century Grade A listed Church of Scotland building.

The Winter Warmer project, a collaboration with the Bothwell Futures charity, sees the building open four days a week, with volunteers serving lunch and dinner.

People can pop in for a coffee or find a quiet corner to do some work or study.

Football fans can even pull up a pew to tackle the newly-released FIFA23 computer game.

Rev. Majcher told Lanarkshire Live : "I attended a Church of Scotland online meeting when stark statistics were given about what this winter might bring for people.

Bothwell Parish Church (Hamilton Advertiser)

"The church has to look after its community and while Bothwell has an image as a wealthy village there is a real need for something like this.

"It's not just homeless people and the poorest who need help. There are hardworking people who are not getting by at the end of the month.

"We have a beautiful building here but it means nothing if it's closed. We must have the heating on anyway so we might as well use the building for something good."

The project is set to run throughout the winter and there are plans for theme nights featuring movies and quizzes.

There is also a 'community larder' where people can help themselves to groceries and other essential products such as toiletries.

The minister added: "People have been very generous with financial backing and we have had other donations, such as two PlayStations.

"Local restaurants are providing evening meals at reduced prices.

"Often there is the idea that church is only for church folk, but we want to show there are no labels here and we are all members of the community."

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