A New Christian Bookshop for Cardiff

SPCK had been supplying Britain’s mainstream churches with the best and the latest in Christian literature since the late seventeenth century. The oldest and the second largest Christian bookseller in the UK, the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge had shops in cathedral cities throughout England and Wales, including Cardiff. But SPCK is no longer in the bookselling business. A new Christian book shop in Cardiff, Churches Together Bookshop, aimed at carrying on the SPCK heritage, is opening on 22 July at the same City United Reformed Church location in Windsor Place formerly occupied by SPCK.

The key to success for this enterprise will be our ability to respond to the requirements of the broad ecumenical church scene in Wales. We’ve sent out over 800 letters to churches from Powys to St David’s, and have received good input in response. We will be carrying everything from rosaries to zipped leather Bible covers, along with books and church supplies. We’re building a website at www.ctbooks.org.uk to publish reviews of what’s new and advertise special promotional offers. A scheme of partner churches will return 5% of purchases by church members to the churches who sign up for the scheme, and we plan special monthly evening opening hours for partner churches.

So a new mainstream ecumenical bookshop for Wales is finally here, thanks to the support of many encouraging voices and the expert advice of so many experienced colleagues. The shop will be open 10 am to 5 pm Monday - Friday, and 10 am – 4 pm Saturdays. We hope this shop will make a real difference in strengthening the churches, not just here in Cardiff, but across Wales.

Ruth Dickinson, Manager, Churches Together Bookshop admin@ctbooks.org.uk