Inside Out and Outside In

Revd Craig Gaudion, Vicar of All Saints Hoole

At All Saints, our vision is simple but all-encompassing: to live with, like and for Jesus. Our hope is to see Hoole and Chester come alive with His peace, presence, and power — a movement of missional disciples who make disciples, igniting hope across the city. That vision shapes everything we do. Two examples capture how we’re trying to live it out — one we call “inside out,” and the other “outside in.”

Inside Out: Tea and Tissues

This idea was actually my wife Gemma’s — she’s our Family and Outreach Worker, and she has a real heart for helping people feel seen and loved.

If you’ve ever had a child starting school, you’ll know that moment can be emotional. The children are usually excited, but parents and carers often find it hard to let go. So Gemma and our team decided to do something simple but meaningful: we call it “Tea and Tissues.”

On the first day of the new school year, after morning drop-off, a few of us — along with the headteacher and deputy — set up at the school for an hour. We offer tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and a warm welcome to parents and carers. We also give out small packs with tissues, a few church leaflets, and contact details for support groups or activities they might find helpful.

It’s a simple gesture — an hour of being present — but it’s opened so many doors. Parents linger to chat, some laugh and cry, and many express surprise that the church would think to do something like that. We’ve seen people come along to toddler groups and Sunday services as a result, but more than that, we’ve deepened the trust between church and school.

It’s not rocket science; it’s just love in action. By being there in that tender moment of transition, we get to remind people that they matter — that God cares for them and that the church is for them.

Outside In: Alpha for Toddler Parents

The second story is what I call “outside in” — creating entry points for people outside church to find family inside it.

We’ve run Alpha courses for a while now, and they’ve been transformative. We’ve had people from all walks of life — from those recovering from addiction to professionals — and the thing that makes it work isn’t the slick videos or clever talks, but the conversations. It’s the chance to ask questions in a space where no question is too small and no opinion is dismissed.

Gemma had a particular heart for the parents she was meeting through our Monday toddler group. Many of them were struggling — with anxiety, loneliness, and the weight of everyday life. As she listened to them, she began to wonder what would happen if we offered Alpha specifically for them.

One mum, who described herself as “not religious at all,” later told us she’d been praying — just asking that someone would bring a bit of hope into her life. When Gemma invited her, she said yes straight away. Soon, a few others did too.

Of course, parents of toddlers can’t really do evening sessions, so we adapted Alpha to fit their world. Straight after toddler group, we’d serve a simple soup and sandwich lunch. Volunteers from church — all safely recruited — looked after the children in another room, while the parents gathered for the Alpha discussion.

The conversations were honest, raw, and hopeful. A few older Christians joined as facilitators, gently guiding discussion and praying for the group. The sound of walkie-talkies occasionally interrupted things when a toddler needed their mum, but the grace in that space was tangible.

The fruit has been remarkable. Two of those mums were baptised on Easter Day by full immersion. Three others have joined small groups. And one mum, who came to faith through that course, has since led her son Jack to Christ — and now the two of them pray daily for her husband to come to know Jesus too.