GCH House Update - Summer 2026
- London Catholic Worker
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
A House of Hospitality is so much more than a house. But, in recent months, we have been reminded of material realities. Between warped windows and doors, a roof beam chewed through by squirrels, and even an exploding microwave, life in an old building is not without its challenges. Yet anyone who has spent time in a Catholic Worker house knows that these places are more than just a shelter. Patricia, one of the founders of MSH, a Catholic Worker house in Calais, often says that the house itself has a soul and a spirit, and that is certainly true here.
The live-in community continues to evolve; Thomas, Moya, Harry, and Naomi remain at the house, while Eva has moved on to study Environmental Science. At the time of writing, another community member is due to join us shortly, and we look forward to his arrival. Having a space for a shorter-term volunteer, as well as the stability of those of us committed for longer, is really lovely. We miss everybody who leaves us after 6 months, of course! But their influence lives on in the new ideas they have brought and our ever-expanding external community.
The past few months have also brought changes for our guests, three of whom have been granted leave to remain. At the time of writing, one guest has already moved into his own flat and the others are in the process of working out their next steps. After years spent in uncertainty and limbo, seeing people rebuild their lives offers a glimpse of hope. With the rise in anti-immigrant propaganda and violence, this feels particularly necessary; we must have hope in order to fight back.
The guests in our night shelter have also moved on now, whether to new lives or another shelter, as the process for them continues. The shelter ran until the end of April and has closed over the summer, but we hope to reopen it this winter and once again welcome ten destitute men into our church hall and into our lives. In the meantime, many of our friends and former shelter volunteers have continued to use the church hall space for all sorts of creative and political events. Among other things, our friends Sharmini and Armand gave a fascinating talk about life as Christians in Malaysia, and we continue with our bi-weekly evening Bible study. Excitingly, Jade and Connor, who met at the Bible study, got married in July! Our good friend Andy also continues to run free bicycle repair classes from our church. Being able to cycle around London opens up a lot of opportunities for all of us, as public transport costs can be prohibitive, especially for our guests, who often have appointments and volunteering opportunities all over the city.
The house increasingly feels like a hub of activity; a place where new ideas are born, friendships (and a marriage!) are formed, and people find welcome. We are continually reminded that our community extends beyond any one house and is sustained by countless people who contribute their time, gifts, and presence.
The church creaks and groans, recycling is sorted into the wrong bin, or the water pressure stops working. Yet through it all, the London Catholic Worker remains a place of welcome, a place of community, and a place where hope continues to take root.
