WOODFORD GREEN: Secular bookshop to stock Christian literature (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WOODFORD GREEN: Secular bookshop to stock Christian literature

1:33pm Thursday 3rd November 2011 in Redbridge News By Dominic Sutton

CHURCHGOERS left devastated by the closure of a Christian bookshop have been given some solace.

Living Oasis in High Road, South Woodford was forced to close in August this year after Ongar-based charity Nationwide Christian Trust (NCT), which owned the store, collapsed.

Congregation members of several local churches had raised £20,000 to keep the shop open, but to no avail.

But, in the wake of Living Oasis’ collapse, the owner of a secular bookshop is stepping in to serve the needs of the Christian community.

Alison Lawrence, who runs the Village Bookshop on Woodford Green High Road has been in discussions with Dominic Stinchcombe, the former manager of Living Oasis.

She said: “We are trying to up our religious content, and Dominic has been very helpfully guiding me on which books we should get in.

“We have also been in contact with many of our local churches to let them know we are happy to help with any specialist religious books people may want.”

Mr Stinchcombe, 58, says he hopes to return to the book trade in the near future.

He said: “It’s a difficult time for bookshops and we just couldn’t find anyone with the funds to take Living Oasis on.

“It’s very sad, because it was a focal point for many people, but the Village Bookshop has a huge clientele and I’m delighted to give them advice.

“They won’t have room for the range of books we had, but at least the Christian community will have a place to get books in Woodford.”

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