Sacristy Press is encouraging people to support the many small independent Christian bookshops who are struggling for survival during the Coronavirus lockdown with a new campaign.
The publisher, based in Durham, has compiled a list of more than 25 Christian bookshops who are keeping their ministry alive by dispatching books for home delivery despite having to close their shop doors.
The list of stores from Shetland to Stoke and Launceston to Luton includes bricks-and-mortar Christian bookshops who sell books from a variety of publishers direct to consumers and who are taking web, email or phone orders during the lockdown following social distancing guidelines relating to COVID-19.
Richard Hilton, one of the founding directors of Sacristy Press, said:
“More people than ever are turning to the big online retailers during the lockdown, but many Christian bookshops are fighting for their survival. Now more than ever they need us to shop with them. They will appreciate your support.
“We hope that people will share the list so that Christians across the country know there is still an alternative to buying books from the internet giants.
“The survival of these shops is in your hands. It is as simple as that.”
Aude Pasquier, Retail Sales Director at Church House Bookshop in Westminster, said:
“Like many high-street bookshops, we have been taking orders over the phone and through our website during the lockdown. It is wonderful to see what even a small publisher like Sacristy Press is willing and able to do to support independent bookshops. We are very grateful to Sacristy Press for their vital help and enthusiasm for Christian bookselling in such testing times.”
The list of bookshops offering home delivery is available on the Sacristy Press website at: www.sacristy.co.uk/bookshops
Sacristy Press is a small, independent, publishing house based in Durham City. Founded in 2011 it publishes theology, history and historical fiction.