FAITH Christian Group was started in 1990 as a response to a need which its founder, Jim McConnell, saw on the streets of Reading.
In the beginning, the FAITH office was based in the front room of his house and both we and Reading owe him a debt of gratitude for pioneering this work.
It is interesting to remember that even in those early days there was the beginnings of a food bank and vision for a night shelter, if perhaps a larger enterprise than we have as yet been able to achieve.
Following those beginnings, a small van was purchased, and a drop in centre opened running every Sunday at St Andrew’s Church hall near the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading.
FAITH then went mobile with the purchase of what was to become the Candle Tea Bar. This has been out in Reading Town Centre on Sunday afternoons almost every Sunday.
It was also used at events such as the Reading Rock Festival, the West Reading Carnival, South of Reading Churches Fun Day and for children’s outreach on some of the local housing estates.
We want to honour Jim for all that he did in setting up FAITH.
We also acknowledge a debt to the Directors who followed him:- Paul Hughes, Chris Milton and Malcolm Peirce, each for their vision and energies
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