ST SAMPSON’S Over-60s’ Centre will reopen its doors to the public on Monday.

The Covid-19 lock downs have taken their toll on many social gatherings throughout the region, but the York City Centre-based church can’t wait to get back to some sort of normality.

Reverend Sue Nightingale, chairman of the trustees and the church’s chaplain, said: “All our volunteers and staff are really looking forward to getting back and meeting the people again, despite the restrictions.

“We are also looking forward to meeting some new people and we’re looking for some new volunteers who can lend a hand. We serve food and drinks and I think it’s the best value catering in York, but that’s just my personal opinion.”

The club has had between 50 and 100 people on a daily basis during ‘normal times’ and has seen about 500 per week dropping in to socialise.

In the early 1960s, the church congregation of St Sampson’s had dwindled to just a handful of people. The decision was made to close the church in 1968. For six years the church stood empty and unused, before York Civic Trust was able to arrange for its conversion into an Old People’s Centre.

St Sampson’s Church, after a period of decay and neglect, once again was given a new lease of life – serving a new community of people.

On November 13, 1974, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother officially opened St Sampson’s Centre for Old People. The centre quickly became very popular, welcoming up to 1,500 people daily to the centre for social activities, events and refreshments.

Although it’s not certain when the church was built, records show that it was in use in 1154 AD. It is built on the South-east wall of the Roman defences of Eboracum.

If you would like to volunteer, please contact them via the club’s website at https://stsampsonscentre.co.uk.