Stephen Wheeler talks to Tina Blankson of Trinity House
A five minute walk from the chic restaurants and fashionable boutiques of Cheltenham’s centre is an ordinary looking ex-office block, that was bought 10 years ago by the large and vibrant congregation of Trinity Church, and that’s where I met cook Tina Blankson.
Twice a week Trinity House, which is in effect Trinity’s church hall, opens its doors and provides a two course lunch, free of charge, to the vulnerable in our midst; the homeless, addicts, the lonely, dispossessed, unemployed, and people with mental health problems, who are battling to look after themselves. I said to Gareth Dickenson, pastor in the community at Trinity, that the work his church did was understated. In twenty years living in Cheltenham I hadn’t ever heard of the churches mission. “We don’t advertise our work”, he said, “we just put our Christian beliefs into practice”.
I talked to cook-in-charge Tina just before the doors opened to, on average, 100 people, who arrive not just for food and drink, but for help with social situations, clothing parcels or a free haircut, or just for human company. Spiritual help is always on hand from the church’s pastoral staff, but not in any way obligatory. The uncomplicated, wholesome food Tina cooks is all paid for through charitable giving, so her budget has its limits, but it’s all cooked from fresh ingredients.
Tina had been head chef in one of Cheltenham’s fashionable wine bars when personal tragedy struck The church helped and guided her through that period of her life, and gradually she became involved in working for the vulnerable in Cheltenham. “Apart from my children, it’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my life”, she told me. I asked Tina what was her favourite style of cooking? “I like to think I can cook anything – and that’s from a cook who detests knives”, she laughed, but perhaps Chinese food from the Ruby in Cheltenham is what I’d have on a special occasion”.
As I was leaving, Grace was being said before the lunch service. On the words “may God help us all” one of the visitors shouted “I wish He’d help me!” Well, maybe He is, through the amazing voluntary work of Tina and all her friends at Trinity
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7th August 2010
Tina Blankson of Trinity House
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