The door opened to a familiar face. “Welcome,’ Alex said. ‘Come in. Come in!”
A hubbub of chatter, caffeinated air, and clattering plates greeted me as I left the quiet street and entered the Tait’s home. Alex’s wife, Kat, stood talking by the stove, every gas ring covered by a pan. Their kids, George, Clara, and Oscar, played with grown-up friends, unfazed by the organised chaos around them. Preparations for brunch were in full flow, and it all reminded me of a big family gathering - loud and busy, yet warm and relaxed. Home from home.
For Alex and Kat, welcoming people is a passion. Since joining Grace London three years ago, they've made it their mission to bring others into authentic church life, over brunch, life group, or a post-service picnic. Last May, they also began leading the Waterloo AM Welcome team, helping newcomers feel at home each Sunday. But their story at Grace didn't start as you might expect.
“When we came, we didn’t feel hugely welcomed. We stood alone for a while,” laughed Kat as I chatted to them last week, a few months after that first brunch. The room was calmer this time round, the dishwasher quietly churning in the background.
"We used to run the Welcome team at our previous church," Alex added. "So, it mattered a lot to us. Our first Sunday here was slightly uncomfortable, but we left feeling that there was an opportunity for the church to grow in this area. Grace drew us in—people who adored Jesus, passionate worship, strong teaching—but we were hesitant about our experience of being welcomed."
Given their initial hesitation, I wanted to know why they stuck around. “On the flip side”, I said, “now you’ve been a Grace for three years, what’s your favourite memory?”
A pause. “Shortly after we joined, our daughter, Clara, went to hospital and was very, very sick,” Kat replied. “But within two hours, we had a week's worth of meals and babysitting rotas. It was a real testament to the incredible community that exists within Grace. It was certainly an amazing thing to witness.”
“The community really stepped into its own,” agreed Alex.
“And it gives us confidence as we welcome people into the church - we know that we're drawing them into something amazing and can do it with such sincerity.”
Kat alluded to their role of spearheading the welcome at our Waterloo morning service, and I was keen to know more. “What’s your favourite thing about your current team?” I asked.
“I’m probably gonna say the same thing,” Alex said to Kat, smiling.
“We love that there are loads of families in our team. It has been special to see those with young kids finding a way to serve. It's such a delight to have our son George—he's four—on the gate with Alex, highfiving people as they enter church.”
“Dare I say, he’s a far more effective welcomer than I will ever be,” Alex said. “Who can say no to a happy four-year-old?”
“And what kind of people are you looking for to join the team?” I asked. “Besides, you know, four-year-olds.”
“Five-year-olds are also welcome,” Alex joked.
”Another strength of the team is that we don't just have extroverts. I’m your typical ‘E’ - I'm energised by a room of people I don't know, but for a lot of people, that's their worst nightmare. Our Welcome team is blessed to have many who seek out quieter conversations. We need people who can energetically say hi to anyone, but also people who can welcome those who don't enjoy an energetic greeting.”
Our conversation was coming to a close, but over the course of it, I had learnt that for Alex and Kat, church is as much ‘home’ to them as their Kennington terrace. Both are places where they open up their lives and hearts—and stand by an open door. Saturday brunch and Sunday service aren’t so different in their eyes.
“In the same way that I would welcome people into my home—looking out for those who are new, offering a drink—that’s how I want to welcome people on a Sunday”, Kat said when I asked her about her heart for the ministry. “Church is God's house, and we get the privilege of welcoming people into it.”
*The Welcome team differ from the hospitality team, who prepare food, drinks and communion. If you’d like to join any of our volunteering teams, visit grace.london/serve.