Hospitality in Heatwaves
As we face the prospect of heatwaves becoming the new normal in the UK, churches might want to consider what this means for our hospitality. Communities thrive when we gather together in person. When heatwaves compromise the safety of our shared spaces, we should seek to understand how we can adapt to keep flourishing together.
This summer in the UK is set to be the hottest on record. With multiple heatwaves and a wide-reaching drought, the UK is struggling to cope. Playgrounds have reached 50ºC [1]; public transport has reached 40ºC [2]; many cultural institutions have reduced their hours during peak heat [3]. Our communal spaces are not adapted to these conditions, leading to increased seclusion and isolation as people stay at home to avoid the unbearably hot temperatures.
Christians have the opportunity to step into this gap, providing shelter from the heat. Called to be people of hospitality, we must consider how we, not only as individuals, but as gathered communities, can become heatwave-resilient. This, fortunately, was a challenge very familiar to the writers of Scripture.
One story we can look to is Abraham’s encounter with the three strangers at the oaks of Mamre. Genesis 18 tells us that God appeared before Abraham’s tent in the heat of the day, taking the form of three men. Abraham, awed by the presence of his Lord, bowed low in reverence and hurried to make them welcome. He brought rich food worthy of a feast, cool water for their dusty travellers’ feet, and waited on them as they sat in the shade. Abraham, in simple acts, displayed abundant hospitality.
Roger Wagner’s surprising painting of this scene evokes a fresh perspective (Abraham and the Angels, 2002). Inspired by his time in Syria, the backdrop of his painting features not barren desert land, but great plumes of smoke churned out from an imposing factory complex, alluding to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah in the subsequent chapter. The contrast between the oppressive urban smog and the foregrounded peace emphasises the serenity of Abraham’s welcome. It depicts this moment not just as a respite from the heat, but from the evil that crouches behind them. Amidst both the heat and troubles surrounding this narrative, the four men sit in peace, shade, rest, and comfort.
We too can provide rest and shelter, not only from the oppressive heat of the day, but from the troubles of the world. Jesus, when talking with a Samaritan woman in the noonday sun, offers her the water of life that only He can provide (John 4:10-15). This living water meets far more than her physical needs. It quenches her spiritual thirst. As we seek to offer our communities physical shelter from the heat, we have the opportunity to give even more – the chance to know God as our ever-present refuge.
What would it look like for churches to adopt a Christlike welcome to those wearied by the heat of the day, being quick to offer shelter, food, and rest, both physical and spiritual?
Some churches have partnered with local councils to register their buildings as Cool Spaces, similar to the wintertime programme Warm Hubs. This allows churches to be recognised in the local community as cool havens for community members to take refuge in for free. Council websites list these spaces online and encourage locals to take the opportunity to escape the heat, rest, and rehydrate. One church in Birmingham has welcomed a diverse range of community members through the programme, from toddlers to the elderly, offering an ice lolly and a smile to all searching for shade from the heat. Their pastor, Reverend Katie Stock, said this programme allows their church to be a sign of the hope of Jesus in their local community [4]. Could your church also register with your local council as a Cool Space, to welcome those wearied by the heat?
Other churches have recently opened cafes on their premises: they can provide shelter from both the summer sun and the winter cold. Just as Jesus offered living water to the Samaritan woman, church cafes can meet people with both physical and spiritual refreshment. These spaces often prioritise affordability and relationality, making space to build community over coffee, even offering prayer to guests. This can bring wide swathes of the community together, from office workers on their lunch break to local rough sleepers. Flexible spaces allow diverse communities to come alongside each other in equality and bring to life the command in James to love without favouritism (James 2:8-9). Could your church consider opening a flexible space on your premises, perhaps a co-working space, soft play area, or community cafe?
And these ideas are not for church leaders alone: pastors are not the only ones that Christ calls to have a mindset of hospitality. As members of the body of Christ, we each play a role in welcoming the stranger among us, meeting the needs of the communities God has called us to. In Jeremiah, God calls us to seek the prosperity of the cities He places us in (Jeremiah 29:7). How can you prioritise the welfare of your local community during these hot summers? Do you have a shaded garden where you can invite a neighbour to join you? Do you have a spare fan that you can lend the person sitting next to you in church? Can you volunteer a couple of hours every month to serve at a community cafe? We all have gifts from the Lord, and we are called to use them in service to others with generosity, zeal and cheerfulness (Romans 12:6-8). How can you use the gifts God has given you to serve your community in a heatwave?
Our summers will continue to heat up. Yet we can look to our most generous provider, Jehovah Jireh, for truly hospitable rest. We can join with the song of Isaiah, as he declares, “O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name… For you have been a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat” (Isaiah 25:1, 4). And as we are satisfied by the comfort we find in Him, we should look to our neighbours and, like Abraham, to those passing by our doors, with the same generosity that we have received.
Even as our summer draws to a rainy end, it is worth pondering how we can demonstrate Christ-like hospitality in our changing climate. In days of sun and storm, the Lord is our faithful companion. How can you too be a faithful neighbour to members of your community? Just as the young boy’s loaves and fish could feed five thousand people (John 6), God can use the little we have to bring abundant blessing to many. What is in your hands that you can offer to God today?
Molly Carroll, Parliamentary Assistant
“The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the Jubilee Centre or its trustees.”
[1] Major, K. (2026). “Extreme heat: why our cities can’t cope.”[Text Wrapping Break]Available: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/video/2026/aug/04/extreme-heat-why-our-cities-cant-cope-opinion-video
[2] Howe, M. (2026) “Heatwave exposes pressure on London’s bus network sparking emergency response from TfL.” [Text Wrapping Break]Available: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/heatwave-exposes-pressure-london-bus-network-spark-emergency-response-tfl-b1289283.html
[3] Bosanquet, T. (2026). “How the culture sector is reacting to latest record temperatures.” [Text Wrapping Break]Available: https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/how-the-culture-sector-is-reacting-to-latest-record-temperatures
[4] The Church of England, Birmingham. (2026). “Birmingham churches offer cool spaces during heatwave.” [Text Wrapping Break]Available: https://www.cofebirmingham.com/news-stories/birmingham-churches-offer-cool-spaces-during-heatwave.php
