Anglican priest also runs Broadland DIY store 

Norfolk church minister Andrew Bevan is known locally as “Rev Hardware” because he also runs a DIY store and garden centre in Brundall with his wife Alison. Tony Rothe reports.

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Rev Andrew Bevan is the Assistant Priest for Stalham and Smallburgh Benefices but, along with Alison, he has run the garden centre for 18 years and, for the second time running, the business was a finalist in the Broadland and South Norfolk Business Awards earlier this year, nominated in the Broadland Retailer of the Year category.
 
Andrew gained his nickname “Rev Hardware” from some of the local boating community. Before he was selected for ministry training, Andrew had been actively involved in youth and children’s work in the Waterside Benefice. He says: “My motivation was to help reach out to the community and encourage those without a church connection to see the church building and church community in a new and fun light.”
 
As a self-supporting minister working in his own business, he is allowed to be seen as a priest working in the heart of the community. This helps to break down barriers and to challenge the perception that the priest or church member is only accessible within the confines of the church building. Andrew feels that this is not the reality for many hardworking ministers but can be the perception of those who do not have regular engagement with the church.
 
“Working in a shop in a semi-rural location, I engage with many hundreds of people each day,” he explains. “These may be regular customers or visitors to the area. To be served by someone wearing a dog collar can at first be quite challenging. My regular customers are now used to this and will frequently spend time talking to me about matters of concern seeking prayer for themselves or family members. Many customers feel able to speak to me when perhaps they would not seek out the local parish priest.”
 
Andrew wears his clergy collar at work, and both he and Alison make themselves available to be a listening ear to those who visit the shop. He explains: “Very often we will put a cup of tea in someone’s hand if they need a bit of comforting support or take them home if they are struggling with their shopping. Our shop has always tried to convey a welcoming environment.”
 
For holidaying visitors to the shop, the experience of being served by a priest can be unique and can open up many unusual conversations, particularly when speaking with those of other faiths or no faith. He has also had the opportunity to signpost people to the local church or an appropriate support agency.
 
“My day is varied, given the nature of the shop, and I may find myself assisting a customer in unblocking a drain or toilet one minute and then the conversation moves to matters of personal concern, health issues, emotional fears and concerns. Sometimes these conversations can be in the vernacular, as those speaking to me may see through the image of a priest and just wish to express their emotions in the simplest of terms. There is still an understanding, even if someone is not a Christian, that they will be heard by someone wearing a dog collar. It’s about both trust and accessibility.”
 
Andrew says that there are many Christians who serve faithfully in their communities and his role is no different, as he is just allowed to be a visible Christian presence in an unusual environment. It is a non-threatening environment, with no barriers to access. He explained that St Paul was also self-supporting as he travelled in Christian witness, and many Christians follow a similar path today serving faithfully and witnessing to Christ’s love found in the Gospel message. To be a minister serving God in this way is just another example of being called to service, both the service of fellow humankind and service to God.
           
“There is also a wonderful correlation to serving God during a church service,” Andrew says. “Preaching is enriched by the many examples of everyday life that can be found in my work at the shop. It helps me to ground my preaching in accessibility – helping to find the human connections that we all experience and relating this to the Gospel. For example, I love leading worship on the 4th Sunday of Advent as the service starts with the lighting of four candles. I’ve even taken a fork handle to church to illustrate the point!
 
“My key motivation is to work in the community, to be part of the community, to be an accessible priest and to break down some of the misconceptions about what the church is. By doing so I would hope to permit others to be comfortable in hearing of God’s love for them.”
 
“I feel called to help in taking the church into the community and breaking down some of the perceived barriers at the church door. When serving on a Sunday I always try to be outside welcoming our congregations before the service starts. My business activities help to place me in the community,” said Andrew.

For more information about self-supporting ministry, visit the Diocese of Norwich website.

Read our previous story about Rev Andrew Bevan.
 
The picture of Andrew in his hardware shop is courtesy of Andrew Bevan.