As churches across the Diocese of London mark Refugee Week, many are offering practical support, friendship and welcome to people rebuilding their lives in the UK.
More than 100 churches across the diocese support refugees and asylum seekers in different ways, from drop-ins and English conversation groups to advocacy, befriending and community meals.
One such ministry can be found at HTB St Luke’s Earl’s Court, where a community café run in partnership with Hillsong Church welcomes between 80 and 100 refugees and asylum seekers every week.
What began in 2021 as a response to the arrival of people displaced by the war in Ukraine and the evacuation of Afghanistan has grown into a thriving community where people can share food, practise English, receive practical support and, perhaps most importantly, find a sense of belonging.
The café was initially created to support people living in nearby asylum hotels. Leaders recognised that one of the greatest barriers many newcomers faced was isolation, often compounded by limited English and unfamiliarity with life in the UK.
Now in its fifth year, the ministry continues to provide a place of welcome for people from across London, many of whom return week after week because of the friendships and community they have found there.
Building a Place of Belonging
Every Monday evening, the church fills with conversation, laughter and activity. Alongside shared meals and English conversation groups, volunteers help guests navigate housing, employment and everyday challenges while creating opportunities for friendship and community.
Its impact was recognised in 2022 when King Charles III, then Prince of Wales, visited the Community Café and praised volunteers for their “selfless service”.
Yet according to HTB Displaced Manager Mario Washington-Ihieme, who leads the ministry, the café’s greatest impact is not found in any single service it provides.
“I think it’s probably just the sense of community that they feel here, and the sense of belonging,” she says.
Meeting People with Dignity
Many guests arrive carrying experiences that most people can scarcely imagine. Some have fled conflict, persecution or instability. Others are navigating homelessness, uncertainty and the challenges of rebuilding a life in a new country.
While the café is not a specialist immigration service, volunteers often help guests navigate the complexities of the UK asylum and immigration system, connecting them with expert organisations when additional support is needed.
Again and again, Mario hears the same response from those who attend.
“All they say is, ‘You asking is more than enough.’ People don’t even ask them how they can be helped.”
That insight has shaped her understanding of the ministry. While practical support matters, she believes the simple act of being present can be transformative.
Walking Alongside People
One story stands out.
A man originally from Palestine approached the café shortly before he was due to leave his asylum accommodation. He spoke almost no English and had nowhere else to turn. Mario accompanied him to meetings with the council, helped him navigate the system and stayed in touch throughout a difficult period of uncertainty.
Eventually, he was offered accommodation and was able to settle into a new home.
Today, he still attends the café every week.
Rather than coming only to receive support, he now looks for ways to help others, offering to cook, clean and serve wherever he can.
For Mario, his journey illustrates an important truth.
“Presence is important,” she says. “Sometimes people just need somebody by their side.”
Faith Expressed Through Welcome
The ministry is rooted in Christian faith, but it is open to everyone regardless of background or belief. The church building has become a place where people feel safe, respected and welcomed.
Mario sees this as a reflection of Jesus’ own ministry.
“Jesus walked with people regardless of where they came from,” she says. “He met people where they were.”
She points to Jesus’ words in Luke 4:18, where he declares his mission to bring good news to the poor, freedom for captives and release for the oppressed. That vision sits at the heart of HTB’s Social Transformation ministry, which seeks to prioritise and support people on the margins of society.
Seeing the Person, Not the Label
As Refugee Week is celebrated across the country, Mario hopes people will look beyond labels and statistics and recognise the humanity of those who have been forced to leave their homes.
“You don’t know somebody’s story until you speak to them,” she says. “Regardless of whether you’re labelled as a refugee or someone seeking asylum, you’re a human being at the end of the day who deserves a life that is dignified.”
In a climate where conversations about migration can often become polarised, the Community Café offers a different vision. It is one built not on fear or suspicion, but on friendship, hospitality and hope.
Every Monday evening, that vision is lived out around shared tables, over cups of tea and in conversations that remind people they are not alone.
Find out more
Churches across the Diocese of London are supporting refugees, asylum seekers and people affected by modern slavery in a variety of ways.
To learn more about the Diocese’s Compassionate Communities programme and resources for churches, visit the Compassionate Communities webpages.
For information, resources and guidance on supporting refugees, asylum seekers and survivors of modern slavery, visit the dedicated Refugees, Asylum Seekers and Modern Slavery section.
