Nancy Motsamai and her husband Fusi, both from South Africa, were much-loved members of the Woking United Reformed Church community, before tragedy struck.

The couple had fallen in love in the UK while on student visas and were married by the Revd Lucy Brierley, minister of the church.

They built a life together in the country and became active members of Woking URC, serving as youth and children’s work leaders before they were forced to embark upon a tragic battle with an unjust and broken system.

‘Luton gangs to be targeted by Bedfordshire Police,’ screams one headline. ‘Luton fast food owner jailed over drugs in takeaway bag,’ shouts another. ‘Luton terrorism hotspot,’ cries one more.

For those unfamiliar with the area, it would seem, on first appearances, to be a place to avoid.

But Karen Campbell, United Reformed Church Related Community Worker (CRCW) for Grassroots – a Luton-based ecumenical charity that supports community work through its involvement with the Bury Park Beech Hill Council of Churches (BPBHCC) – shows just how much work is going on behind the negative headlines, to build community and celebrate multiculturalism. 

There are times when a person enters church so damaged that we can see absolutely no way to help them, or even to reach them. This upsets me. It upsets me equally to hear church people say: ‘They've made a choice’. To believe this is a comfortable way off a terrible hook; because the point at which such chaotic persons could discern their choices is long gone. So, what do we do? Nothing. But pray.

Chaos in Church

Chaos wandered into church;
with splitting plastic-bags of cans,
and stubbed-out fag-ends in each hand,
and sat down with a lurch.