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Church makes bid for crisis-hit Brighton venue (From The Argus)
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Church makes bid for crisis-hit Brighton venue
12:30pm Monday 22nd February 2010
An evangelical church has made a bid to buy a crisis-hit arts venue.
Brighton Vineyard has made an offer for the Grade II listed Old Market in Upper Market Street, Hove.
The venue was put on the market for £1 million a fortnight ago after its previous owners, the Old Market Trust, went into liquidation when they were overwhelmed by long-term debts.
Pastor Chris Simmons, from Brighton Vineyard, yesterday confirmed rumours it had made a bid.
He said the group wanted the Old Market to continue as an arts and community centre which would be used as a church on Sundays.
Mr Simmons said: "We have been looking for a base of our own for 18 months and this fits the bill perfectly."
Brighton Vineyard currently operates from offices in North Road, Brighton, and stages sessions weekly at BHASVIC college, in Dyke Road, Hove, and Latest Music Bar, in Manchester Street, Brighton.
If their bid is successful the Old Market would become the second city landmark taken over by an evangelical church group in the past year, following Holy Trinity Brompton's move into St Peter's Church in York Place, Brighton.
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Your Say YourArgus
John60, Brighton says...
1:56pm Mon 22 Feb 10
East Brunswick, Brunswick Town says...
2:38pm Mon 22 Feb 10
I believe they are known as "The Happy Clappers" Worship for them is a loud affair.
If it continues as an 'Arts Centre' along side the church I can see conflict ahead. So many shows will be a bit 'iffy' for them.
jaygee, arundel says...
3:21pm Mon 22 Feb 10
Christophe Hawtree, Hove says...
3:54pm Mon 22 Feb 10
Alison Smith, Brighton says...
5:34pm Mon 22 Feb 10
Christophe Hawtree wrote:I think of Hove as East Portslade actually !
Yet again the Argus has a headline about a "Brighton" venue and then reveals that in fact it is in Hove. It is this cavalier treatment of the places that continues fears that the Council will revive its plan to rename Hove as West Brighton.
Acheron, Hove says...
6:08pm Mon 22 Feb 10
John60 - I'm sure they won't be bothering God by being in the venue :-) Where they get the money from, I expect it will be people donating their money. Renting out space in BHASVIC will have been a lot cheaper than having their own place and they have been there a very long time.
East Brunswick - Depends on what is described as 'iffy'. Personally doing things under the guise of 'art' lets people get away with all sorts! I saw a glass of water on a shelf last week (Liverpool Tate), but apparently it's an Oak Tree!
I think we can all be glad that it's not going to be left boarded up and then squatted in and wrecked, which could easily have happened in this financial climate.
RickH, Hove says...
6:56pm Mon 22 Feb 10
J'av, Hove says...
7:55pm Mon 22 Feb 10
grev, brighton says...
8:44pm Mon 22 Feb 10
John1010, Worthing says...
7:36am Tue 23 Feb 10
No reason why it can't function effectively as an arts and community centre in the week and a church on a Sunday - happens in other places around the UK. Hope they make a success of it.
alyn, southwick, southwick says...
8:23am Tue 23 Feb 10
TION:
This is not the second city landmark taken over by a church group. It is only the FIRST as published in Argus recently. St Peter's was a church before. The group that took over this "Church of England" building is a "Church of England" group, albeit an evangelical strain within the same wider church group.
(Many buildings have been taken over by churches throughout the years and many churches have been taken over by secular/non-religiou
s business groups, too. So what.)
alyn, southwick, southwick says...
8:28am Tue 23 Feb 10
lwbrighton, Brighton says...
9:36pm Tue 23 Feb 10
The church in question does intend the building to be used by all parts of the community include for charitable purposes.
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censored, Brighton says...
12:47pm Mon 22 Feb 10
Even better: buy the building, then let the homeless sleep there in warmth every night. Do some good with your money.
Seriously, though. Isn't it a bit sickening that bible-bashers have a spare million quid, whilst arts and music venues struggle?