Campus Outreach
What is 'Campus Outreach'
Some of the most remarkable communities at St. Alban’s extend well beyond our Sunday morning congregation. Our Campus Outreach ministries open our doors to our neighbors through service, shared interests, creativity, and community. In fact, many of the people who volunteer in these ministries are not members of St. Alban’s at all. They remind us that ministry is not only about what happens inside the church on Sunday. It is also about creating places where people can serve, connect, form friendships, and find a sense of belonging.
Campus Outreach Ministries
ST. ALBANS THRIFT SHOP
The St. Alban’s Thrift Shop has long been a beloved part of our life in Newtown Square. Staffed entirely by volunteers, the shop offers gently used clothing, accessories, household goods, books, and treasures of all kinds at affordable prices. Proceeds from the shop are returned to the wider community through programs, projects, donations, and organizations.But the Thrift Shop is about more than what is on the shelves. It is also a community in its own right. Volunteers from St. Alban’s and from the wider community work side by side, building friendships while serving their neighbors. Whether you come to shop, donate, volunteer, or simply see what treasures you might discover, you are welcome.
ST. ALBANS RAIL ROAD FELLOWSHIP
Tucked beneath the Thrift Shop is something you might never expect to find at a church: the extraordinary St. Alban’s Railroad Fellowship (StARR).
Built and maintained by a dedicated community of model railroad enthusiasts, the railroad fills entirety of the undercroft of St. Alban’s and represents three decades of creativity, craftsmanship, and volunteer work. Many first-time visitors are surprised by the size, scope, and craftsmanship of the layout and by the community that has grown around it.
StARR members gather multipul times per week to work on the railroad, and throughout the year the Fellowship opens its doors to the public, inviting families, railroad enthusiasts, and curious visitors of all ages to experience it for themselves.
Like our Thrift Shop, the Railroad Fellowship has become a community that reaches beyond the membership of St. Alban’s. People may first come through our doors because they love trains, enjoy building things, want to volunteer, or are simply curious. What they find is a place to share their gifts, build friendships, and belong.