St. Peter’s is a sanctuary, but not a long-term shelter
In a recent edition of the Cape Gazette, the challenge of unhoused people was covered in a report about a recent meeting with Lewes City Council. St. Peter's was identified as a shelter, but this is not entirely accurate.
At St. Peter’s, we are known for rarely locking our sanctuary doors. Offering a space of peace, prayer and welcome has been at the heart of our ministry in Lewes for nearly 350 years. Whether someone is a tourist, a person in prayer, someone seeking safety after a night out or a neighbor without shelter, we have tried to extend Christ’s hospitality to all. We strive to be a sanctuary in the heart of Lewes, with open doors to all.
We understand that with such openness comes a certain vulnerability, and we have embraced this as part of our call to be Church. We ask all who enter to respect the space, care for others and refrain from using alcohol or drugs inside. Most guests honor these expectations. When someone is unable to do so, we are sometimes faced with the hard decision to temporarily close the sanctuary at night for the safety and care of all.
We want to gently remind our community that while we strive to be a sanctuary, we are not equipped to be a long-term shelter. We do not have the resources, staff or facilities to offer sustained support for those facing housing or mental health crises. We support other agencies and groups doing this work in our community, but it is not something we can do at this time. While we do have security cameras on the property, we do not have round-the-clock staff. Still, we do not turn people away in their need – we pray for them, offer what we can and work with others in our community who are better equipped to help.
On occasion, we have had individuals come to us who are in significant distress. Their presence has raised concerns for their well-being and others. In response, and with heavy hearts, we sometimes have made the difficult decision to keep the sanctuary locked at night.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. And above all, join us in prayer for all who are unhoused, vulnerable or suffering. May we all continue to strive to be a community of compassion as we each do what we can to care for those in need.
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