Our communities
People live in community and communities, because we like to belong. Isolation hurts us. Belonging nourishes us.
But churches often deny LGBTQIA+ people a feeling of belonging. That’s why Open Table Network communities are so significant: they fill a painful gap. And by doing so they measurably improve their members’ mental health and well-being.
Below are a list of our current communities. There are more getting ready to begin. If you want to visit, come just as you are, you’ll be more than welcome - Here’s what we mean by ‘more than welcome’. If you’d like help in building a new community, get in touch - right now.
If you want to find out about the beneficial impact of our welcome, click here.
“Try an @opentablelgbt service... the ones I have attended have felt so sacred & full of fellowship - & the liturgy is different, & magnificent, because it is inclusive & queer-centred.”
UPDATED September 2024:
We currently support 37 communities across England & Wales, hosted by inclusive churches in five Christian traditions:
with more to come.
In a typical month, Open Table communities meet as follows:
Birmingham: THIRD Sunday of each month at Wylde Green URC, B73 5SW. Service from 3pm. Facebook page.
Bradford: FIRST Sunday of each month at The Equity Centre, BD1 2TP. Refreshments from 6pm, service at 6.30pm. Facebook group.
Bristol: FIRST Sunday of each month at Cotham Parish Church, BS6 6DR. Refreshments from 4.30pm, Communion service from 5pm with refreshments afterwards. Facebook page.
Cambridge: FIRST and THIRD Sunday of each month at Downing Place URC, CB2 3EL. Refreshments from 7pm, service at 7.30pm. Facebook group.
Canterbury: SECOND Sunday of each month at St Peter’s Anglican Church, CT1 2AT. Refreshments from 3pm. Service at 3.30pm. Facebook group.
Cardiff: FIRST Sunday of each month at All Saints Cyncoed, CF23 6RU. Service 6pm followed by refreshments. East Cardiff Ministry Area Facebook page.
Chester: SECOND Sunday of each month at Wesley Church Centre Methodist Church, CH1 1DA. Service from 6.30pm with refreshments afterwards. Facebook group.
Colchester: SECOND Sunday of each month at St Matthew’s CofE, CO4 3HR. Refreshments from 4pm, service from 4.30pm. Facebook group.
Derby: FOURTH Sunday of each month at St Werburgh's CofE, Spondon DE21 7GL. Service at 4.30pm. Facebook page.
Exeter: FIRST Sunday of each month at Southernhay URC, EX1 1QD. Service at 6.30pm. Facebook page.
Fareham: SECOND Sunday of each month at Holy Trinity CofE, Fareham PO16 0EL. Refreshments from 5pm, service at 5.30pm. Facebook page.
Guildford: FIRST Sunday of each month at Guildford URC, GU2 4BS. Refreshments from 4.30pm, service at 5pm. Church Facebook group.
Kendal: THIRD Sunday of each month from 6.15pm, hosted by Kendal URC, LA9 4HE. Refreshments [soup and bread, tea and coffee] 6.15pm, Communion service 7pm. Facebook page.
Leyland: SECOND Sunday of each month at St Ambrose CofE, PR25 4XA. Refreshments from 6.00pm, service at 6.30pm. Facebook group.
Liverpool: FIRST and THIRD Sunday of each month at St Bride’s CofE, L8 7LT. Refreshments from 6.00pm, service at 6.30pm. Facebook page.
London:
Bow Common: FIRST Sunday of each month from 6.00pm, hosted by St Paul’s CofE, E3 4AR. Parish Facebook page.
Bromley: SECOND Sunday of each month at Bromley URC, BR1 1RY. Refreshments from 10am, service at 10.30am. Facebook page.
Wanstead: SECOND Sunday of each month at Wanstead URC, E11 2HD. Service from 6pm followed by refreshments. Church Facebook page.
Waterloo: SECOND Sunday of each month at St John’s CofE, SE1 8TY. Service from 6pm followed by refreshments. Church website.
West Hampstead: THIRD Sunday of each month at St James CofE, West Hampstead, NW6 2AP. Refreshments 6.30pm, service at 7pm. Facebook page.
Manchester - Facebook group:
Salford: THIRD Sunday of each month at Sacred Trinity CofE, Salford, M3 7WQ. Refreshments from 6.45pm, service at 7.15pm.
Wythenshawe: FOURTH Sunday of each month at St Luke’s CofE, M22 4PT. Refreshments from 6pm, service at 6.30pm.
Nantwich: FOURTH SUNDAY of each month at Nantwich Methodist Church, CW5 5RP. Simple meal 5.30-6.30pm, Communion service 6.30pm followed by tea and coffee.
Northallerton: FIRST THURSDAY of each month at All Saints CofE, DL7 8DJ. Service at 7.30pm. Facebook page.
Nottingham: LAST Sunday of each month at St John’s CofE, NG5 2DP, from 5.00pm. Facebook page.
Ormskirk: SECOND SUNDAY of each month at Ormskirk Parish Church, L39 3RD. Refreshments from 7pm, service at 7.30pm. Facebook page.
Plymouth: FOURTH SATURDAY of each month at Mutley Baptist Church, PL4 6LB from 3pm. Facebook page.
Reading: FIRST SUNDAY of each month at Reading Minster CofE, RG1 2HX. 2.30pm for refreshments, service at 3pm. Church Facebook page.
Sefton: SECOND Sunday of each month at All Saints with St Frideswyde CofE, L23 9TQ. Refreshments from 6.00pm, service at 6.30pm. Facebook group.
Sunderland: SECOND Sunday of each month at Sunderland Minster CofE, SR1 3DE from 5.00pm. Facebook group.
Taunton: SECOND Sunday of each month at St Michael the Archangel CofE, TA1 4TP. Communion service 7pm followed by refreshments. Facebook page.
Warrington: SECOND Sunday of each month at St John’s URC, WA4 6QE. Refreshments from 6.00pm, service at 6.30pm. Facebook group.
Weymouth: FIRST Sunday of each month from 6.00pm, hosted by Holy Trinity CofE, DT4 8TJ. 6.00pm Doors open, 6.30pm Communion service followed by a light supper. Facebook page.
Widnes: SECOND Sunday of each month at St Michael & St Thomas CofE, WA8 8HY. Refreshments from 4.00pm, service at 4:30pm. Church Facebook page.
Wigan: FOURTH Sunday of each month at St James with St Thomas CofE, Poolstock, WN3 5DP. Refreshments from 6.00pm, service at 6:30pm. Facebook group.
Wirral: Open Table Wirral Facebook group.
Heswall: FOURTH Sunday of each month at Heswall URC, CH60 7SE. Refreshments from 6.00pm, service at 6.30pm.
New Brighton: SECOND Sunday of each month from 4pm, at Emmanuel CofE, CH45 1HG. 4pm Communion service followed by refreshments.