An innovative approach to exploring faith has taken off in a Derby Church to such an extent it is attracting 120 people each month searching for an opportunity to air their spiritual questions.

Soul Café, the brainchild of a team at St Paul's Church, in Chester Green, is usually held on the first Sunday of each month between 8pm and 10pm, from Sunday September 11th through to June 2006. It mixes British cultural norms such as music, poetry, chat, art, film and café style refreshment with an opportunity to be quiet and contemplate the spiritual dimension to life.

St Paul's Curate the Rev'd Sue James, who has seen the growth of the initiative since it was trialled in December last year, says it provides a relaxed and different means of experiencing Christian faith and spirituality without the formality of a Church setting.

"There is a great deal of interest in spiritual matters these days, but some people can not easily connect to the structure and language of traditional Church services because it is so unfamiliar to them. Soul Café offers a place where the same issues can be reflected upon but with quite a different atmosphere. It has an experiential approach and we hope it can reach those people who are looking for a way of developing their faith in more contemporary and creative ways."

At a typical Soul Café event, a guest could expect to find a café style layout of tables around a central stage area. Candles all around promote a peaceful ambience and there is a segregated 'Quiet Zone' where people can retreat for contemplation through poetry and other creative means.

During the evening, a theme is explored via the stage using various media such as live music, film, art, a story, or sounds, and then guests can participate in discussion if they wish, or simply listen to others. There is no pressure to take part, but there is every opportunity to participate if you wish.

St Paul's Vicar, the Rev'd Michael Mitton, hopes Soul Café will continue to grow and encourage people to explore different ways of considering faith issues. He said: "We are having to recognise that for many people today, the traditional ways of doing church feel strange and unfamiliar. But what we are discovering is that there are a lot of people who are deeply spiritual, who want to think about God and find a safe and relaxed context for exploring their spirituality. I am delighted that the church is able to provide this place for such people. But it is not just one way. We are learning much from those who are coming to Soul Café and together we are discovering new ways of serving and worshipping God.”

Recently Soul Café has even caught the attention of Lambeth Partners, a charity chaired by the Archbishop of Canterbury, which funds a national Christian mission initiative called Fresh Expressions. This is a movement supporting different expressions of church. Soul Café was one of three projects that were part of a presentation to Lambeth Partners and the Archbishop was said to be 'very affirming' in response.

The next Soul Café after September 11th will be on Sunday October 4th. See www.soulcafe.co.uk for more details.

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