Designs were produced by Architect Daniel Pacaud, which at the time caused great controversy with the Church Commissioners Advisory Board for Redundant Churches, who felt that the proposed works compromise the architectural heritage of the space.

The Church was at the time considered to be one of the finest examples of the work of Architect Thomas Rickman, who built the church between 1829-1932 with Henry Hutchinson.

Pacaud's plans for conversion, involved the installation of a dividing floor. But, despite the Church Commissioners' discontent, the build project went ahead.

The images found show this development in full flow and include pictures of a visit by politicians - including a rather young looking Kenneth Clarke - to see first hand the "Community Initiative" in progress.

Works included:

• Installing the first floor and sprung wooden floor on the ground level
• Repairing many of the windows which had been smashed over the years
• Cleaning the exterior sandstone, using a sandblasting method, to remove graffiti and pollution dirt

However, the costly process meant that many of the works proposed by Pacaud - particularly the developments of the upstairs hall spaces - were eventually abandoned.

Today, Trinity continues to renovate and develop the space to try to avoid any further compromising of the interior and realise this original vision to make a multi-functional community hub.

"Although the very fine interior of this church would be ruined by the proposals as the building now belonged to the local authority Board members felt that it would be a waste of time to try and say it by fighting a rearguard action. It was RESOLVED: That the Church Commissioners be informed that the Advisory Board regards the church of Holy Trinity, Bristol, Diocese of Bristol, as a building of considerable architectural and historic interest with a fine interior that would be entirely compromised by the present proposals for conversion to a community centre" - Church Commissioners Advisory Board for Redundant Churches, June 1987.

Jan 21-22 Arts Opportunity Theatre staged 'Black & White in Colour' in 1983. The play explored causes of the St Paul's Riots in 1980.

Trinity Centre during the Festival of Light event in 2018 Photo Khali Ackford

This year Trinity will not be hosting our annual fireworks display.

Having run the popular free community event since 2004 this year we have decided to take a well earned break to focus on developing our Community Activities programme.

Our newly announced Community Kickstart project will launch on the Nov 3 during our very first Community Feast.

We are calling local residents who have an idea and the passion to start an activity (BS2, BS5) to join us for a hearty veggie meal (cooked by our friends at CoExist Community Kitchen) and to find out more about how to get support and small amounts of funding to get their ideas off the ground.

We also have lots of regular activities happening in our garden including Play & Learn Sessions for 0 – 5 and their carers, as well as regular volunteer work. You can always join us on the Nov 5 at our annual Heart & Soul Celebration as we welcome members, friends and supporters for an evening looking back at all the wonderful events, projects and activities that took place at Trinity in the last year.

This is a great opportunity to ask us any questions about getting involved with Trinity and how to get your own ideas or projects off the ground and out in the community.

During the celebration we will welcome resident artist Roxana Vilk who will be sharing her project 'Lullabies' and our Communities team will be running an easy drop in workshop to create bird feeders. Plus, there will be food from Pieminister who have kindly donated vegan and veggie pies.

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A playful and gentle dance movement class specifically designed for people living with Parkinson’s. Bring your partner or carer along to join in too. All welcome, no previous dance experience required, just a willingness to have fun!

The classes are lead by Dancers from The Original Spinners who are trained to deliver dance to people living with Parkinson’s and currently lead sessions at Southmead Hospital.

Details
Classes run every Tuesday from 10.30am – 12pm
(Dancing from 10.30am-11.30am followed by tea, coffee, biscuits and a chance to socialise)
Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.

“It makes me feel good, it gives me a workout, it has emotional content, and it requires interaction with other dancers. And all these benefits enable me to live with a little more ‘Joie de vivre’ in my life!” (Southmead class participant)

Dates when the class will not be running
24th Dec 2019
31st Dec 2019
7th April 2020
14th April 2020
26th May 2020

Bristol Caribbean Community Enterprise Group had debts of more than £100,000.

Midland Bank was the company's biggest creditor, but the Inland Revenue (who was owed £23,000) brought legal action.

Its Chairman at the time (from November 1983), Mr Richard Davis, said in Venue no.70:

"We had several months' work to do on improving the appearance of the place...it's tragic and we feel very bad about it all."

He believed they could turn their losses around but needed to overcome the drawbacks (like the gravestones outside the road widening and the state of the building) which were thought responsible for people's reluctance to use the place: "We inherited a lot of problems. It's been a long, hard slog and it seems everything's been against us."

Centre Manager, Fitzroy De Freitas was accused of stealing money and running away to Jamaica. It transpired that he was actually living at his sister's house in Clevedon, penniless, with massive loans out on his former property due to Trinity. Sadly, the rumours stuck anyway.

Nick Fyfe epitomised the indomitable spirit that led to Trinity's reopening.

Nick Fyfe joined the campaign whilst managing a full time business building skate parks across the South West.

He had for many years combined his successful business career with active involvement in local voluntary sector.

Nick brought a vast reservoir of experience and skill to the 'Save Trinity' campaign.

Former business partner, friend and Trinity colleague Matthew Hewitt describes Nick's key contribution to the campaign:

“Nick was so good at writing documents. In half an hour he could write a two page A4 document of several thousand words and it would all make sense. Nick prepared the meticulous cash flows, business plans, and letters underpinning the campaign that were edited and reworked by the core campaign group. Armed with these documents the eclectic group presented 'a professional image' to the Council. Having secured the lease the team subsequently learnt from an informal Council source that Trinity's bid was by far the most professional and the most well thought out.”

Nick's commitment to Trinity persisted after the lease was secured. Despite 'hard graft' on the skate park he committed his time and energy to supporting the organisation. Combining long demanding hours on site with managing Trinity may have damaged his health. Matt reflects:

“I didn't see that he was passing away because he was getting weaker and weaker. He'd had pneumonia not got over it and..he was just such a stunning character none even thought that he was near checking out..He worked on site, a building site right up to the day he died. I had a phone call from him an hour before he died saying “Matthew I'm gonna drive to Trinity can you take me somewhere when I get there. A day later his son phoned me and said he died about the same time he phoned me. He was just not going to give up...”

Our upstairs 'Fyfe Hall', was named such in memory of Nick Fyfe, one of the founding directors of Trinity Community Arts. A plaque on the downstairs north wall, has also been installed in memory.

Following the liquidation of the New Trinity Community Association in 2001, Bristol City Council held a tendering process for the future management of The Trinity Centre. Shifting funds away from community centres and towards 'Millennium Projects' coupled with a series of financial problems, forced Trinity to close once again in 2000, shutting its doors for what seemed to be the last time.

Enquiries were made from a variety of community and commercial developers and seven applications for new use were made. This included an application from the Avon & Somerset Constabulary to turn the building into a police training centre.

Others who submitted Expressions of Interest included: Travelling Light, the Bristol Festival of Dance, Undercover Rock (now happily housed in another converted church in St Werburghs), SARI and a Church group, as well as the 'Save Trinity' campaign.

The Save Trinity Campaign

A group of budding social-entrepreneurs launched the Save Trinity Campaign to get the Centre back into the hands of the local community. Following this, Trinity Community Arts Ltd (TCA) was officially constituted in 2002 and set out to develop plans for the Trinity Centre as a creative hub for East Bristol.

The group submitted an Expression of Interest, which outlined how they would encourage partnership with other local community and arts organisations and provide subsidised space to maximise the breadth of activities on offer. This was perhaps the most compelling case made, as, whilst other bidders represented specific communities of interest, TCA was able to provide a diverse community and cultural offer, as well as working alongside others to make full use of the space.

TCA's subsequent application for community asset transfer was successful and the group secured a short-term lease of Trinity Centre in 2003. The building was re-opened on 1 October 2004 as a community arts centre.

With a strong focus on training and outreach, TCA works with a range of community groups, arts organisations and individuals to provide a lively and varied activities and events programme for the City of Bristol.

A sale price of £25,000 is agreed for Holy Trinity to the Caribbean Community Enterprise Limited.  Payment is expected in installments.  The purchasers are also expected 'to pay a substantial part of the purchase price and to have undertaken the conversion of the existing building before embarking on the levelling out of the churchyard.'

On 21 December 1977 Order in Council was made by Church Commissioners that Holy Trinity could be appropriated for use as a community centre. This order formed the basis of a protective covenant that is still in place to safeguard its use in the present day.

About BCCE

The St Paul's 'uprisings' of 1980 awakened the desire of African-Caribbean community activists to provide ownership for young people of a centre that offered entertainment and personal development relevant to their own perceived needs. Without the hard work and dedication of this organisation, who undertook all of the early restoration and conversion work, the Centre would not be the amazing functioning community space it is today.

BCCE timeline

1977-1984 - Roots, rock and rebellion

Blokey was part of what gave Trinity that family feel - not least because he also managed to rope in his family to help out run the place in those early days!

From running the bar and rigging the lights to writing policies and business planning, Blokey's commitment helped to shape the Trinity that we have today.

Blokey was the glue that held us together. A cheeky chap. A man who seemed to promise the world and, amazingly, somehow deliver. When the place steadied, he moved on to new adventures, yet always reappeared in any moment of crisis.

How he knew we needed him I just don't know. He was just always there. Perhaps that's why as long as I'm at Trinity, there'll always be a part of me that expects him to walk in just to see how we're all doing.

I will forever be grateful for his support and calm presence, during a time when it felt like the whole thing could fall apart in a moment's breath.

Thank you Pete for always being there and for creating the feeling you still are. Always in our hearts, Emma xx

Simi was a hugely dedicated and influential figure in Bristol’s voluntary sector, devoting her life to the betterment of services for the city’s South Asian community, developing a wealth of activities that included a multi-faith youth service for young people, the first Asian youth festival, an Asian radio show on BBC Bristol and a day care centre for elderly Asian people.

She is most known for her work with Awaz Utaoh, meaning 'raise your voice'. The charity was established in 1997 and has supported women primarily from across Bristol's South Asian community for decades.

Through her work with Awaz, Simi was able to develop and deliver a regular programme of activities embracing and connecting women of all religions. She was a strong and inspiring figurehead for a core group of women who met every Wednesday at Trinity, until her retirement prior to the pandemic. She crafted a safe space for well-being and empowerment that helped to unite and give voice to women of all ages.

For anyone who was blessed with the good fortune to attend Awaz, you were welcomed by a space full of music, dancing, food and fun. Thanks to Simi’s generosity and spirit, everyone was made to feel like part of one big family, of which she was very much the mother figure.

Over the years, Simi’s dedication and work in the voluntary sector has been recognised through several awards including the Lord Mayor’s Medal.

Towards the end, sustaining this valuable work became an increasingly uphill struggle, with the challenges of cuts to funding compounded by Simi’s own declining health. Still, she persisted, never giving up, to ensure that the women who relied on this service continued to have somewhere to go. As one of the women using this service was quoted; "What the statutory agencies of the city could not do for them over the last 15 years, Awaz Utaoh did it.”

We give thanks to this hugely important woman and hope that her work and vision will serve as inspiration to others that - in spite of all our differences and the challenges we face - if we raise our voice, one woman can have the power to bring change, hope and light to the world around her.

Simi's family have created a memorial page where those who knew her can leave their words, photos and memories.

People gather in the main hall for this years drumming workshop Photo @Alexa Ledecky

Families taking part in the craft workshops in the Main Hall Photo @ Alexa Ledecky

Almatic's lead singer Katie during their set on the Main Stage Photo @ Alexa Ledecky

Children taking part in Cirque De Silk's aerial workshop Photo @ Alexa Ledecky

All the enjoyment early on in our community garden Photo @ Alexa Ledecky

Miss T, who attends sessions as part of our music making project plays the Making Tracks showcase Photo @Alexa Ledecky

Families enjoying the spring sun and vibes with Trinity and her iconic towers in the background Photo @ Khali Ackford

Wecil Collective perform in the Main Hall, including an cameo from Trinity's Engagement Coordinator Dr Edson Burton who MC'd on the mics Photo @ Khali Ackford

Bristol artist, DJ and producer Dutchie during her set Photo @ Khali Ackford

Rider Shafique and Sam Binga played the end set at this years Garden Party Photo @ Khali Ackford

Trinity T's everywhere! Photo @Khali Ackford

And it ends ... with Lottie Ball & Edson Burton hosts of this years Garden Party Photo @ Khali Ackford

Team Trinity have teamed up with Caring in Bristol to open Trinity during Christmas

We have joined forces with Caring in Bristol to open up Trinity during Christmas for their annual Caring At Christmas Project.

Caring at Christmas has been supporting homeless and vulnerable people over the Christmas period for over 30 years. It provides day and night time support offering shelter, food, clothing and social activities for people in need in our city during what can be a particularly difficult time of year for many. The project relies on support from volunteers and is funded almost entirely by public donations. For 2018, there are over 1000 volunteering opportunities.

“We’re really excited to be working with the Trinity Centre for our 2018 Caring at Christmas project. Separating out our day centre and night shelter will enable us to better support the wide-ranging needs of the many different people that use our project over Christmas. Caring in Bristol believe in city-wide solutions to dealing with homelessness and partnering with a fantastic community centre, such as the Trinity Centre is a brilliant way to support our mission. It demonstrates the ways community partners can get involved and help provide meaningful solutions to one of the biggest issues facing our city today.” Assistant Director, Lisa Spice

Caring at Christmas has historically run both its day centre and night shelter from the Julian Trust’s building in St Pauls, taking over the building and adding extra support and beds whilst the Julian Trust’s night shelter closes for Christmas. For the 2018 project, Caring in Bristol are partnering with the us to run Caring at Christmas here during the day.

The day centre will be open to guests from 24th – 28th December from 10am - 6pm

Caring in Bristol need the help of the city to support the project and people in need over the Christmas period. If you want to organise a fundraiser then we want to hear from you! Get in touch with fundraising@caringinbristol.org.uk. You can also donate to Caring in Bristol via their website.

Caring in Bristol are also looking for engaged community members to join our growing team of volunteers.They are currently recruiting for Caring at Christmas volunteers: please visit their website to apply.

When I come to Trinity I send some emails out advertising gigs and classes, what are going on here. I like getting out and meeting people and having a laugh. I like getting out and socialising and getting out of the house for a day. I am always kept busy at Trinity and I enjoy myself.

(Us) Can you describe your time at Trinity in three words? Happy, working hard