A CHURCH will tomorrow start dishing out free soup and sandwiches to people affected by the deepening recession.

Temple Cowley United Reformed Church in Oxford Road, Cowley, is throwing open its doors between 10am and noon, inviting the public in to enjoy a cup of soup and a sandwich.

The soup kitchen will be open on each Saturday morning, indefinitely.

Church elder and secretary Frances Thomas said: “If ever there was a need for churches to be playing their part in terms of community spirit, this is it.

“We are not trying to get bums on seats, but being out there working with the local community.

“We can’t change the current financial climate but it is the church’s place to be there with everyone else because we are all affected by it.”

The initiative comes after members of the congregation set up shop outside the church and handed out free hot chocolate, mince pies and fairy cakes before Christmas.

It was so well-received they decided there was a need for a permanent facility, so now the church will act as a soup kitchen and community space every Saturday.

Mrs Thomas said: “We won’t turn anyone away.

“We can hold about 60 people in that room at any one time, but if we get swamped we would put the screen back and use all the church area.

“The more people that come, the more soup and sandwiches we will get.”

Anyone who offers to pay for the soup and sandwiches will be refused, with funding for what the church has christened a “credit crunch brunch” coming from church funds and donations from members of the congregation.

As well as the refreshments, free newspapers will be circulated and activities such as board games will also be available.

Mrs Thomas said: “We are one of the few community spaces remaining in Cowley – it’s not about church on Sunday, it’s about opening it up to the community irrespective of where they’re coming from.”

The Rev Dick Wolff added: “As the financial gloom deepens, we can tell from some of the conversations we hear that people have got real concerns.

“It’s not about being do-gooders, it’s opening the door and getting a space where people can go, without having to spend money. We just think there is a need for it.”

In April 2008, a community emergency foodbank was set up and founder Jane Benyon said the number of families coming there in crisis was continually rising, with about 100 people a month now being referred by participating agencies.

She said demand had peaked over Christmas and January but appeared to be on a steady upward trend.

fbardsley@oxfordmail.co.uk