The only church in Britain to run a bowling alley has been granted £50,000 to continue its social enterprise.
Revenue from the 12-lane alley in a former cheese creamery on the edge of Carmarthen, in south Wales, has been funding social projects run by Towy Community Church since 2013. But coronavirus restrictions have curtailed its operations. Camarthenshire Council stepped in with a grant to ensure that its foodbank, community shop and furniture store kept running.
The church’s senior pastor, Paul Griffiths, explained that the concept grew out of an attempt, ten years ago, to lease the site from the council as a base for the church. ‘Developers had wanted to build a bowling alley, but pulled out in the wake of the financial crash. We were offered a short lease, but told if someone stepped forward to carry out the original development we would have to get out. We didn’t want to do that, but then my predecessor had the crazy idea of offering to run the alley. The council said if we used the profits to run some of our social projects, it would open up some grant funding.’
