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Vintage Adventure

Our vision over the past 18 months has been to build a community for those who are older, providing a safe, creative and hospitable space, for guests with and without faith, to explore purpose and spiritual meaning in this season of life. This is also a space that aims to be an inclusive, dementia friendly environment.

Currently based at Highfield Church, we meet once a month for 3 hours; gathering from 11am over coffee and cake, followed by a creative exploration around a biblical theme. Recently we looked at ‘Living in a Fragile World’, both giving thanks for the beauty of creation, but also reflecting on the earth’s fragility and our responsibility to care for our environment.

We always begin this space with a visual story telling technique, ‘The Story Retold’, and guests then have the choice to visit a variety of stations that help to unpack the theme further through craft, prayer and reflection. There is always the option to simply sit and chat over another cuppa as well! After joining once again for a short time of closing worship, we all share in a delicious light lunch. We involve our community when possible and recently invited local charities involved with vision (including the popular guide dog!) to raise awareness of some wider issues. After a short closing act of worship, we all share a simple lunch together.

Through training and resourcing, Caraway are hoping to grow this offering through other churches in the city.

Upcoming Events

Vintage Adventure

    We have a growing community of around 40, or even more when children from a local school join us, which is wonderful opportunity to build intergenerational connections.

    Caraway hopes to develop Vintage Adventure with churches across Southampton over the coming year.

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    Caraway is a registered charity. Support us to resource our older community.

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    Testimonials

    I think we all know that growing old is hard these days, I’ve learnt that myself in the last few years and I think Vintage Adventure has been arranged and planned in a wonderful way to help us. There’s the spiritual which is very clear, but very gentle and I believe we all need that, whatever our past experience, whatever we believe . That is such a lovely encouragement and strength for us. I think what they are doing here is really wonderful.

    Felicity
    Testimonials

    A thank you note to The Vintage Adventure Team who provide refreshment for frazzled souls!

    What you do each month is AMAZING! All so lovingly prepared, it is valued greatly. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I could not fault or improve any aspect of my experience . WOW! I've no recollection of writing with such superfluity!

    I thank the Lord for the church! May God Bless you much.

    Lucy
    Testimonials

    I think Vintage Adventure is a fantastic event to put on in a community. For a start it’s great fun, and it involves so many people. It’s a very inclusive way of holding church, so people who are not used to the usual traditional church can come and feel happy and involved in what’s going on. But it also offers another spiritual outlet to the folk who are more used to a traditional sort of church. I would see it as a fresh expression of church , church in its most accessible form for any member of the community who would care to come along.

    Marion
    Testimonials

    It’s something to look forward to, and it’s good to have the spiritual input, and having company for lunch, a simple lunch and it’s so quiet  and peaceful, and getting a lovely welcome.

    Jill
    Testimonials

    I like mixing with people here, and not just because we have a lunch, it’s interesting, we learn a lot about the church , religion and things like that and they have some marvellous displays that are very nice to look at, and they’re all such a friendly bunch, and make you feel very welcome

    Vera