when a simple idea is given time to grow
how we moved from idea to reality
Common Grounds began as a desire for City Church to reach beyond its four walls to the local and global community. City Church is a worshipping community committed to living out the truths of Christianity in a way that is authentic, creative and culturally relevant. In May 2003 they raised £65,000 towards this project, which enabled us to convert a part of the church building into Common Grounds. We were overwhelmed with support from local businesses, volunteer labour, even a grant from the EU and then in September 2004 we opened to the public.
Common Grounds seeks to reflect values of hospitality, justice, generosity and compassion, that are central to the Christian faith and in so-doing trust that we will find and enjoy common ground with the customers that make up the community that has evolved here.
We hope that this will become a vibrant hub in the centre of the Holylands; a place for meetings, for relationships to develop, for beauty to be fostered, companionship enjoyed over coffee and cinnamon scones, for difference to be appreciated and enjoyed.
Common Grounds is a not-for-profit business. We give away our profits to support humanitarian projects in the 2/3rds World and seek to raise awareness of issues that affect he global poor (Check out the current charity). We hope that as we ‘think global and act local’ lives would be enriched and inspired by what we have created here, and what we are continuing to create together.