The Story of The Ark
Who
owns and runs
the shop?
Ginny Ayling, who
took over The Archway which was in this location in 2003. Ginny is a
member of St Thomas Church in Lymington.
How
did it all start?
Ginny had the vision to
make this place a Christian presence on the High Street, working
alongside the local churches, where people could come and know they
would always find a friendly face and be welcome - to show God's love
in action. Her main priority was to have the front of the shop as a
Café and, together with her team, set to work renovating and
re-fitting the shop, stocking it with Christian books, a wonderful
selection of cards from both for the Christian and secular market, as
well as a few gifts and children's toys. Opening day was 1st
March 2004 under the new name of 'The Ark'.
Do
the churches support you financially?
No, Ginny bought the premises, renovated and stocked the shop out
of her own capital.
Is
it a charity? Are there trustees?
No, Ginny was advised that there would be too much red tape
involved, which would restrict the spontaneity and operation of the
business.
What
happens to all the profits?
There aren't any! We run the business on an unofficial 'not for
profit' basis.
How
is it staffed?
The bookshop is staffed entirely by volunteers from the local
churches who share the vision and feel it is part of their own
ministry to serve the community in this way. We have about 15
volunteers covering 100 hours each week from different churches. Some
man the till in half-day
sessions or help in the kitchen over our busy lunch time. Other
volunteers run the book department which includes selecting books for
the shelves, dealing with suppliers and publishers as well as
offering advice to customers. We also offer a Bible reading notes
service for local churches and to over 50 individuals. Other church
volunteers help with general duties including banking and re-cycling. Paid
staff cover catering, cleaning and some administration.
How
can you compete with Amazon and the internet?
People need advice when it comes to the Christian book market, they
like to see and feel the book and maybe discuss it before they buy
it. “You might be able to buy your books on the internet, but you
can't buy ministry on the internet.” (The Times, 16.1.2010)
Who are the bookshop customers?
We are well supported by local churches and church schools, who have
special accounts with us and who buy many of their resources here. We
also have many loyal supporters and customers who appreciate the
broad, independent advice we are able to offer, and the opportunity
to browse the new releases and consider our books reviews.
Who
prepares all the delicious food?
Our creative Catering Manager has built up an excellent reputation
and has brought a lot of new ideas to our menu, always keeping an eye
on healthy options. She is aided by our catering assistants, and we
also have a baker who bakes our cakes and famous scones in our back
kitchen, all to our special recipes.
What
other things are on offer at The Ark?
We are able to cater for small meetings and church-linked gatherings.
Regular meetings include a Bible Society Lyfe gathering for Bible
study and discussion, prayer groups and a regular friendship
get-together for people who live alone. We also hold charity events
such as the Christian Aid Tea Time and an Oakhaven Hospice tea
fund-raiser. General events have included book signings and nativity
tea parties with story telling.
A message from Ginny
"I hope you agree that we have something very special
here, in the way of personal service and excellent food, which can't
be found elsewhere. It's that added dimension to our ministry at The
Ark which makes it work – we are all in service for the Lord."