Statement Regarding St Thomas Stanhope Church Hall
WE are very grateful for all those who attended the community meeting
in relation to the Church Hall earlier in the year. What was clear is that
this is a building in which many memories have been made, lives
celebrated, and relationships have grown. It is for this reason that
people were passionate on the night, and the PCC were very mindful of
this.
In the light of all that was said that night, the Church Council have
done a thorough review of the hall, its operation, its costs, and charging
structure. Several in the meeting suggested they would be willing to pay
higher rates for hire. This has been tested out.
We increased the rates of hire (though not to the rates that would be
needed to break even), and by consequence we have seen a drop in
hirers.
Several in the meeting suggested obtaining quotations for the work to
be done on the hall. This has been done for the most urgent
component, and the original figures we had been given look actually to
have been conservative.
Several suggested that the hall would attract grants. The Church
Council has applied now for 3 grants for the costs of some of the works.
This has proven unsuccessful.
The Church Council were very grateful for a couple of residents who
have offered to join the Hall Management Committee. Suggestions
arising from that involvement have included phasing the works needed
on the building, and indeed flagging up a potential funding source.
Unfortunately, due to the urgency of some of the work, even a phased
approach, on top of the urgent works needed on the Church building
was not feasible. The potential funding source were not willing to fund
the hall. The PCC simply doesn’t have the funds to cover this work
alongside the urgent works needed on the Church.
On the back of all of this, the PCC have thus taken the difficult
decision to move towards sale of the hall.
While all of this has been going on, a community group have
registered the hall with Durham County Council as a community asset.
This gives that group 6 months to raise the funds needed to buy the hall.
If they don’t raise the funds, Charity law obliges the PCC to put the hall
on the open market.
By reordering the Church building we expect it will become a more
flexible space, which would enable it to be used more broadly for
community use. The Heritage assets in that building make it much more
attractive for heritage funders as well as community funders. By working
together, the future of the Church building will be secure.
The Diocese are supporting the PCC in fundraising to conserve the
Church building, and make it more flexible. This should mitigate against
the concerns around loss of community space in the town. Alongside
this, the Church Council continue to seek ways to continue our
longstanding commitment to serve the community in ways which are
sustainable, and that enable our shared flourishing.
We recognise that this is not the news that many will have hoped for.
Indeed, it was not the decision we wanted to make. We share the
sadness that many will feel, as well as the frustrations that some have
expressed.
The Church in Stanhope has served the community with the
maintenance of that building for 700 plus years in its current form. Rest
assured we remain committed to continuing to serve the community of
Stanhope as we restructure ourselves physically to open the space in
the Church itself up to more flexible use.
Change is never easy, but the Church Council remain committed to
doing all we can to enable a smooth transition through these changing
times.
