'Would you like a beer, or some Holy Spirit?' Pub swaps booze for Bible

Written by Super User 17 Feb 2015

The former local has gone from public house to a house of God after residents clubbed together to raise enough funds to buy the dilapidated building. The move came after numbers at two local churches in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs, dwindled and parishioners believed the new venue would be perfectly located to attract more people. Last Sunday Stoke Methodist Church opened its doors to a new set of regulars – including many locals who used to drink in old The West End pub. The holy watering hole now consists of an altar, a community cafe, a vestry and a quiet room - where the bar, pool tables and gambling machines once stood.  OnSunday Rev Nichola Jones said: ‘It’s not the building that makes a church, it’s the people, and they are all very excited about starting something new'. Jenny Walker, from Penkhull, in Stoke, who used to drink at the pub, added: ‘The transformation is just amazing and unbelievable.’