St George’s Cathedral
The Opening
of Holy Grounds
On 9 October, St George’s Cathedral was pleased to play host to the State Governor, the Speaker of the Legislative Assemble, the Lord Mayor, the Chief Justice, and a host of others for the opening of Holy Grounds, our community café and hub, a joint venture with Anglicare WA.
It was a gala occasion with Dr Nan Roma Winmar offering a Welcome to Country and speeches from the Governor, the Speaker, the Lord Mayor, Shamsa Lea from Anglicare WA, and the Archbishop, before the Governor cut the ribbon and the Archbishop blessed the café.
Located on the Cathedral Square level of Church House, Holy Grounds is staffed almost entirely by volunteers and is open from 8.00am until 2.00pm on weekdays. While Holy Grounds works like any regular café, it is also aimed at providing a friendly and welcoming environment for people who are otherwise socially isolated.
In 2022, almost one in seven (15%) Australians (18% of males and 12% of females) were experiencing social isolation. Compared to just before COVID-19 (2019) the proportion of young people aged 15–24 experiencing social isolation increased markedly over 2020 and 2021.
At the 2021 Census, over 110,000 people were living in inner city Perth, and of these a quarter were between the ages of 15 and 30. This means that although more and more people are coming to live in the city, many of them are those most prone to isolation and loneliness.
Holy Grounds is here as a community hub – a place for people to come and meet; a place where there can be conversation and connection; where friendships can be built; where life in our city can be enhanced.
Over the past few years, the Western Australian community has been fractured by both epidemic and technological change. The work of developing human connection is a basic and deeply Christian task. It provides a sense of belonging and community and builds relationships by which we anchor ourselves in the places where we live.
Holy Grounds is also for you. If you are in the city and fancy a quality cup of coffee, maybe a pastry and a chat, drop in and see us. We are keen to enrol more volunteers, so if you have some time to give, we would love to hear from you. Whether you would like to greet people as they arrive, make their coffee, or sit and chat with them, we’d love to have you on the team. Come and see us!