St Isidore, Texas

St Isidore Episcopal Church is based in and around the Spring neighbourhoods in Montgomery County, Texas, USA.

They have no church building, meeting instead in communities which gather around a shared community need or interest. Each community was launched to reach a specific group who are excluded from standard church services, where they together shape church into forms which are accessible and positive for them. There are currently 8 active communities. Warrior Church meets in a gym and incorporates physical activity, where many veterans with PTSD are involved.

At Laundry Love, aimed at the working poor who work six days a week and fulfil their household needs on Sundays, the community gathers in a laundrette to offer free laundry services and haircuts, with a bilingual Spanish-English Eucharist.

Taco Church is a men-only community, meeting over post-workout breakfast, which grew out of Sean’s connections at the gym with men who wanted to talk to a cleric in their own space. Other communities meet around kitchen tables and as a Pub Philosophy group.

All the communities meet together as a larger church gathering once a month, in the large warehouse which houses their Abundant Harvest Kitchen. This social enterprise launched days before COVID-19 lockdown; by September it was feeding over 500 local families and had served over 6,600 meals. They reach another 200 local families through the church’s food truck.

To read this case study click here.