Welcome
Recovery Church supports people who are in, or are seeking recovery from addiction, to connect with our true feelings and emotions, to connect with others in community and to connect with God (or our Higher Power)
Recovery Church is led by people in recovery as well as recovery allies. We understand recovery as a healing journey and recognise there are many pathways to recovery. We draw on the principles of the 12 Steps of Recovery as well as other sources of wisdom and spirituality to help us to find and main recovery and to flourish in life.
Recovery Church hosts weekly services in person and on line for people in recovery from a range of addictions, including drugs and alcohol. We host drop-ins, spirituality workshops, gender-based groups, art groups, residentials, awareness-raising events and we also campaign for justice. We provide one-to-one support, coaching and have access to trauma-informed therapy for people who are part of the Recovery Church community.
Recovery Church is about belonging and being in solidarity with others who are also in recovery.
We recognise the value of caring and compassionate communities and we acknowledge not all faith-based communities fully understand the nature of addiction or the impact of stigma and shame.
Recovery Church embraces people of all denominations, faiths and none whilst openly affirming its Christian ethos and tradition.
History
The first Recovery Church Inclusive Community began in March 2020 at the beginning of the Covid Lockdown.
Having found her way to the 12 Step rooms for her own addiction in 2019, Tracey was concerned about the lack of pastoral support available to people seeking recovery with addictions when churches and 12 Step groups were forced to close their doors due to the pandemic.
A weekly short service on Zoom was initiated using 12 Step prayers and a brief reflection with the intention of it meeting until the end of the lockdown. Five years later this virtual online community continues to grow and it continues to meet every Sunday evening on Zoom.
In April 2022 a second service was started at Newcastle Cathedral and a third began in 2023 in Strathclyde, Glasgow through the work of Rev’d Laurent Vernet and the Scotland Methodist District. There are now more communities that are beginning to develop within the UK.
