Features / Christianity
Trans and queer-led church service offers an inclusive spiritual space for all
Andy Thornton is the community minister at Foundation, an inclusive and contemplative weekly service which has become a spiritual home for many LGBTQ+ people in Bristol.
Identifying as queer and trans, he believes it is important for the community to access an inclusive faith space where they are welcomed and celebrated.
Andy became a Christian when he was a teenager. When he realised he was queer – and later, trans – he faced discrimination and exclusion from fellow Christians.
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“I was unsure and scared for ages,” said Andy. “After doing loads of Bible research and praying, I ultimately realised that it’s fine to be queer. God’s love is unconditional.”
Andy Thornton inside Cotham Parish Church, where he has created an inclusive faith space
He continued: “I had so many bad experiences with churches being homophobic. This was really tough because I started feeling the call to church leadership. But I quickly realised there was a glass ceiling of how much I could be included as a queer and trans person.”
When Andy moved to Bristol in 2021, he was determined to find an inclusive church community. He said that he even bought a car so that he could travel further afield if necessary.
After months of searching, Andy came across Foundation at Cotham Parish Church on Cotham Rdand and immediately knew he had found his spiritual home.
He became an engaged member of the church’s community and, after several years, he was offered the opportunity to take up a leadership position.
Andy said: “I feel really lucky to be able to lead Foundation. I want to create a safe space for people who haven’t had one and show people what God is actually like.”
Cotham Parish Church is an inclusive Christian community within the Church of England
Many LGBTQ+ people have historically been excluded from faith spaces and Andy hopes that Foundation can be part of their healing journey.
Andy told Bristol 24/7: “It’s really important that people experience a real community and are able to be part of the family of God. That’s what churches are supposed to be offering.”
“So many within the LGBT+ community have experienced such horrible discrimination and pain at the hands of Christians.
“Some have even been forced out of churches. I want Foundation to be a place where people can heal from that, and feel safe and seen.”
As well as being queer-inclusive, Andy and other Foundation leaders are intentional about including other marginalised groups such as neurodivergent and Disabled people.
The service itself is informal and has a non-hierarchical structure, often being led by members of the congregation with the hope to create space for open discussion and creative activities.
Although the majority of people who attend Foundation are queer, it’s not an exclusively LGBT+ space.
Andy explained: “What’s really important for me about Foundation is that everyone, queer or not, has the space to come as they are and not have all the answers.
“It’s a safe place to have lots of doubts, and get things wrong, where we can all grow together and learn from each other.”
Foundation meets every Sunday evening at Cotham Parish Church at 7pm. To find out more, visit: foundationbristol.org
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