Few Londoners would think of their local church when needing a latte or shampoo, but one in Wandsworth has tried to change that.
Ascension Balham, near Clapham South Underground station, has made itself into a free harbour for the people around it as well as a place of worship.
Along with its altruism, the late 19th-Century building has been made into an open space for the community around it – a place to eat, study, rest, as well as meet and make friends.
Marcus Gibbs, Ascension’s Vicar of 13 years, eating lunch in the church cafe beside the children’s play area, likened his church to a cross-section of society.
He said: “You have the wealthiest mums in London enjoying flat whites in the same spot as refugees on Wednesdays, and sixth-form students, and people in the office getting debt advice.
“It’s unique – different people who would never be in the same space are in the same space.”
Ascension holds a different communal service nearly every day, including a night shelter for the homeless on Mondays and English classes for refugees on Wednesdays.
However, heating costs at Ascention alone run at £15,000 for the year and Gibbs estimated the ongoing war in Iran would likely see that bill double to £30,000 in September.
Of the estimated 38,500 churches and chapels in the UK half are listed buildings with maintenance costs difficult to bear, reported a 2025 survey by the Nation Churches Trust.
Churches within the Church of England (CofE) do not receive funds from the central CofE or the government.
Instead, they support themselves locally and one in 20 believe they will not be used within the next five years.
It might come across as a clever financial decision to open a cafe in a church then, although Gibbs was clear this was not the case.
He said: “Economically it’s hard for us to do – we’re lucky if we break even.
“When we run a night shelter for our homeless guests on Monday night, someone has to pay.
“All the money comes from the generosity of the congregation.”
The vicar believed the church’s future was not a matter of money, though, but it being part of people’s lives.
Ascension’s open doors were to make it a third space – somewhere other than home or work which doesn’t expect money from you.
He said: “Whether you’re a Christian, a non-believer, it doesn’t matter, we want to share God’s love.
“So what we decided to do as a church was open our doors.”
“When you’re 16 or 17, you need somewhere to hang out.
“On a Wednesday afternoon, sixth-form students come in and we give them free hot chocolate. We get over a hundred in.”
Wandsworth has the fourth-highest level of inequality in London, a city which has the highest level in the UK, according to the Trust for London.
The use of foodbanks run by the Trussell Trust in Wandsworth rose by 18% between 2023/24 and 2024/25, while Wandsworth Foodbank reported a 108% increase in emergency food parcels distributed in 2025 compared to 2019.
While non-commercial settings might be desirable for well-off Londoners, they are necessary for the poorest.
Among the stone pillars and arches of Ascension are community refill stations, offering household essentials like hair conditioner and sanitiser at cost.
Gibbs sees the future of Ascension in filling a need felt across the spectrum of London life.
He said: “Let’s face it – in the rest of the world, the motivation is money, isn’t it?
“A lot of life has become online, impersonal – people crave human connection.”
As for what Ascension will look like in 10 or 20 years Gibbs hopes it is still a space for human connection.
He added: “As a Christian, I’d hope it’s still a space for a connection with God, but I think the two go together.”
Featured image: Fred Lake
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