Priory Appeal Launched
06 June 2008
Supporters of the oldest building in Bristol - a Catholic Church - are launching a £2million campaign to restore one of the city’s most important community buildings.
St James Priory was built in 1129 as a Benedictine priory. It is in the heart of the city centre sitting between the Horsefair and the bus station on Whitson Street.
Mass is still celebrated at St James Priory every Sunday at 8.00 am, by the priests of St Mary-on-the-Quay. It is open every day for anyone to call in for prayer or simply for some quiet. Eucharist adoration takes places every day.
For the past 12 years buildings surrounding the church have been home to the St James Priory Project, a charity that provides rehabilitation for drink and drug addictions.
However, this Grade-1 listed building is deteriorating at a significant rate and is on the English Heritage Buildings at Risk Register.
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has recently awarded a £3.2million grant to carry out vital repairs to the fabric of the main structure - but funds are dependent on more people being able to access and experience the wonderful building.
Now, the trustees of St James are launching the St James Priory Heritage Appeal on 10 June with a VIP event at Bristol’s Mansion House in Clifton to help raise an extra £2million.
The ambitious appeal aims to enable not just repairs but regeneration of St James to open it up to the community in a number of ways.
These include:
Creation of a new café and outside piazza area providing refreshment and hospitality for visitors to the city and the local business community,
Conversion of the north aisle to provide facilities for business, schools, organisations and individuals to utilise,
Removal of unsightly additions to the building and provision of a new access point on Canon Street,
Improvements to the internal layout of the building to provide more flexible space.
Bristol-based architects Acanthus, Ferguson, Mann (AFM) have been commissioned to undertake the design of the new development.
Brian Hanson, Trustee of St James, said, “We are very lucky to have such an important building right in the heart of our great city - but we are in serious danger of losing it if we do not help it retain its rightful place back at the heart of the community.
“The HLF grant will help us move forward with ensuring the building stays upright and watertight, but we want to see schools, business people, charities and other organisations using the church for meetings, events and socialising.
“The inclusion of a café at the rear of the church will also provide a haven for people looking to step out of the hustle of the shopping centre or bus station.”
Susan Jotcham, Director of the Project, has worked in the church since 1993 and has been pivotal in securing both the HLF grant and in the launch of the appeal.
Susan said, “The church is in serious disrepair and, especially in the winter, the rooms are freezing cold, damp and smelly. Generally, the building is very unpleasant for people visiting or using any of the existing facilities.
“This means that people are reluctant to visit and spend time here, which is such a waste. We want to see new life breathed into this hidden gem and to encourage more people to experience this very special place.”
Martin Appleby, Chairman of the Trustees at St James, said, “This building was standing while Cabot sailed to the New World, through the siege of Bristol, through the great plague and the Blitz.
“Through all these times, people came to St James to find comfort, companionship and peace and we want this magnificent building to continue in this role for generations to come.”
To give more news about the campaign a website is being launched at the Mansion House event on 10 June.
To find out more about the St James Priory Project, take a listen to our podcast series featuring four elements of the vital work done at the priory.
Supporters of the oldest building in Bristol - a Catholic Church - are launching a £2million campaign to restore one of the city’s most important community buildings.
St James Priory was built in 1129 as a Benedictine priory. It is in the heart of the city centre sitting between the Horsefair and the bus station on Whitson Street.
Mass is still celebrated at St James Priory every Sunday at 8.00 am, by the priests of St Mary-on-the-Quay. It is open every day for anyone to call in for prayer or simply for some quiet. Eucharist adoration takes places every day.
For the past 12 years buildings surrounding the church have been home to the St James Priory Project, a charity that provides rehabilitation for drink and drug addictions.
However, this Grade-1 listed building is deteriorating at a significant rate and is on the English Heritage Buildings at Risk Register.
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has recently awarded a £3.2million grant to carry out vital repairs to the fabric of the main structure - but funds are dependent on more people being able to access and experience the wonderful building.
Now, the trustees of St James are launching the St James Priory Heritage Appeal on 10 June with a VIP event at Bristol’s Mansion House in Clifton to help raise an extra £2million.
The ambitious appeal aims to enable not just repairs but regeneration of St James to open it up to the community in a number of ways.
These include:
Creation of a new café and outside piazza area providing refreshment and hospitality for visitors to the city and the local business community,
Conversion of the north aisle to provide facilities for business, schools, organisations and individuals to utilise,
Removal of unsightly additions to the building and provision of a new access point on Canon Street,
Improvements to the internal layout of the building to provide more flexible space.
Bristol-based architects Acanthus, Ferguson, Mann (AFM) have been commissioned to undertake the design of the new development.
Brian Hanson, Trustee of St James, said, “We are very lucky to have such an important building right in the heart of our great city - but we are in serious danger of losing it if we do not help it retain its rightful place back at the heart of the community.
“The HLF grant will help us move forward with ensuring the building stays upright and watertight, but we want to see schools, business people, charities and other organisations using the church for meetings, events and socialising.
“The inclusion of a café at the rear of the church will also provide a haven for people looking to step out of the hustle of the shopping centre or bus station.”
Susan Jotcham, Director of the Project, has worked in the church since 1993 and has been pivotal in securing both the HLF grant and in the launch of the appeal.
Susan said, “The church is in serious disrepair and, especially in the winter, the rooms are freezing cold, damp and smelly. Generally, the building is very unpleasant for people visiting or using any of the existing facilities.
“This means that people are reluctant to visit and spend time here, which is such a waste. We want to see new life breathed into this hidden gem and to encourage more people to experience this very special place.”
Martin Appleby, Chairman of the Trustees at St James, said, “This building was standing while Cabot sailed to the New World, through the siege of Bristol, through the great plague and the Blitz.
“Through all these times, people came to St James to find comfort, companionship and peace and we want this magnificent building to continue in this role for generations to come.”
To give more news about the campaign a website is being launched at the Mansion House event on 10 June.
To find out more about the St James Priory Project, take a listen to our podcast series featuring four elements of the vital work done at the priory.
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