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Committee votes to close St Peter's
The church known as Brighton's cathedral appears doomed to closure.
An influential committee voted on Sunday to recommend that the landmark St Peter's Church in York Place be made redundant.
The margin of the vote was reported to be overwhelming.
Despite being the city's biggest and best known church the Parochial Church Council responsible for it has decided that it is no longer viable to pay the maintenance bills to keep it running.
The recommendation from the PCC, whose members are drawn from the congregation of St Peters and the nearby Chapel Royal in North Street, will now be passed to the Church of England's Church Commissioners to make a final decision. But it is believed that it will now be extremely difficult to overturn the recommendation.
The council's decision has come despite a surge of opposition towards the closure from residents of the city.
More than 6,000 people have written letters or signed their name to petitions calling for it to be saved.
Several vigils have been held and actress Dora Bryan has played her part, leading a "knit-in".
Their efforts were well received by the church's own committee, which has expressed an opinion that it would be possible to keep it running with better organisation and more use of the building as a venue for concerts and other revenue sources. They were not enough to influence the council.
The national Church Commissioners will carry out an extensive consultation before reaching their conclusion, giving parishioners a final chance to try to keep St Peter's open.
Maureen Dickson, secretary of the Friends of St Peter's, said: "It is very important that people do not give up. We need to show the commissioners it is very special because it is considered to be Brighton's cathedral."
The closure was originally recommended by the Anglican Diocese of Chichester in light of dwindling congregation and repair bills of thousands of pounds which it said would not be viable.
Recently plaster has fallen from the roof onto the floor of the Grade II listed building.
There has been much speculation about what would become of St Peter's if it were to close. Some have suggested it could be taken over by another church of a different religion. The city's Catholic population has grown considerably in recent years with an influx of residents from nations including Poland, Spain and Portugal, while there are also other wealthy newer churches.
Other speculation has included the possibility of St Peter's being sold for housing development or being transformed into a homeless shelter, an art gallery or a museum.
People connected with the church have expressed their fear that it could remain boarded up and unused for many years if it is closed and become "another West Pier".
Campaigners trying to save the church have asked for anyone who wants to support their efforts to visit them at St Peter's where they can be found every Saturday morning between 10.30am and noon.
Do you think St Peter's should be closed? Leave your comments below.
2:13pm Sunday 7th October 2007
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CommentPosted by: MJ, Brighton on 2:30pm Sun 7 Oct 07
What utter hypocrisy, over 6000 people support the church being kept open, if those same 6000 actually BOTHERED to attend the church, it wouldn't have to close at all would it?
I'm all for saving the building, but this may involve its change of use, I think it's a great building, but with little apparent use, it should be put to better use, one which will pay for it's up keep which is after all, the reason for it's recommendation for closure!
What utter hypocrisy, over 6000 people support the church being kept open, if those same 6000 actually BOTHERED to attend the church, it wouldn't have to close at all would it?
I'm all for saving the building, but this may involve its change of use, I think it's a great building, but with little apparent use, it should be put to better use, one which will pay for it's up keep which is after all, the reason for it's recommendation for closure!
Posted by: Mr.Meaner, Limbo on 3:24pm Sun 7 Oct 07
I think it would make a fantastic venue for a nightclub. There's only the grotty Gloucester nearby and I want somewhere stylish in which to shake my funky stuff.
I think it would make a fantastic venue for a nightclub. There's only the grotty Gloucester nearby and I want somewhere stylish in which to shake my funky stuff.
Posted by: Dave, Woolwich on 4:07pm Sun 7 Oct 07
Turn it into a big Wimpy.
Turn it into a big Wimpy.
Posted by: Mr.Meaner, Up on 4:12pm Sun 7 Oct 07
[quote][bold]Dave[/bold] wrote:
Turn it into a big Wimpy. [/quote] I may have a big mouth but even I may struggle to bite into that.
Dave wrote:
Turn it into a big Wimpy.
I may have a big mouth but even I may struggle to bite into that.
Posted by: Mickey Dolenz, Around on 5:24pm Sun 7 Oct 07
...now I'm a believer!
Posted by: Justin, Brighton on 7:57pm Sun 7 Oct 07
T.Ruth wrote, "all the atheists I had to wheel down to the mortuary, died with an agonised look on their faces, which very oddly and disturbingly remained on their faces after their death. On the other hand the believers in God always died with a peaceful look on their faces, which remained there". Yeah, of course, we all believe you! If Christians are not afraid of death, why do they spend so much time fighting the right of terminally ill people to die with dignity?
T.Ruth wrote, "all the atheists I had to wheel down to the mortuary, died with an agonised look on their faces, which very oddly and disturbingly remained on their faces after their death. On the other hand the believers in God always died with a peaceful look on their faces, which remained there". Yeah, of course, we all believe you! If Christians are not afraid of death, why do they spend so much time fighting the right of terminally ill people to die with dignity?
Posted by: H. Indu, earth on 9:12pm Sun 7 Oct 07
[quote][bold]Justin[/bold] wrote:
T.Ruth wrote, \"all the atheists I had to wheel down to the mortuary, died with an agonised look on their faces, which very oddly and disturbingly remained on their faces after their death. On the other hand the believers in God always died with a peaceful look on their faces, which remained there\". Yeah, of course, we all believe you! If Christians are not afraid of death, why do they spend so much time fighting the right of terminally ill people to die with dignity?[/quote] Surely thats gods
Justin wrote:
T.Ruth wrote, \"all the atheists I had to wheel down to the mortuary, died with an agonised look on their faces, which very oddly and disturbingly remained on their faces after their death. On the other hand the believers in God always died with a peaceful look on their faces, which remained there\". Yeah, of course, we all believe you! If Christians are not afraid of death, why do they spend so much time fighting the right of terminally ill people to die with dignity?
Surely thats gods
Posted by: Patrick, Hove on 9:16pm Sun 7 Oct 07
So who is going to get their grubby hands on the Building then?
So who is going to get their grubby hands on the Building then?
Posted by: John, Brighton on 9:22pm Sun 7 Oct 07
Some of us attend other churches but still want St Peter's to stay open as a symbol of Christianity so we're not all being hypocritical about signing the petition.
Some of us donated to the fund to save St Peter's roof a some years ago.
Some of us know people who tried to join the congregation at St Peter's only to find they were being directed to other places of worship.
Sadly, the church authorities have gone off old buildings because they cost more to maintain than anonymous modern buildings. The Church's own financial crisis has been a contributory factor in this. Flaky modernisation of the Church's values has played a part in the dwindling congregations that mean fewer people donate to the Church. In places, the Church now rents halls from schools to hold services. There are modern services with traditional values such as CCK which draw thousands. Sadly, the Church of England, in seeking to close St Peter's, is once again about to show how far removed it has become from the people who would otherwise support it.
Some of us attend other churches but still want St Peter's to stay open as a symbol of Christianity so we're not all being hypocritical about signing the petition.
Some of us donated to the fund to save St Peter's roof a some years ago.
Some of us know people who tried to join the congregation at St Peter's only to find they were being directed to other places of worship.
Sadly, the church authorities have gone off old buildings because they cost more to maintain than anonymous modern buildings. The Church's own financial crisis has been a contributory factor in this. Flaky modernisation of the Church's values has played a part in the dwindling congregations that mean fewer people donate to the Church. In places, the Church now rents halls from schools to hold services. There are modern services with traditional values such as CCK which draw thousands. Sadly, the Church of England, in seeking to close St Peter's, is once again about to show how far removed it has become from the people who would otherwise support it.
Posted by: T.Ruth on 11:11pm Sun 7 Oct 07
[quote][bold]Justin[/bold] wrote:
T.Ruth wrote, "all the atheists I had to wheel down to the mortuary, died with an agonised look on their faces, which very oddly and disturbingly remained on their faces after their death. On the other hand the believers in God always died with a peaceful look on their faces, which remained there". Yeah, of course, we all believe you! If Christians are not afraid of death, why do they spend so much time fighting the right of terminally ill people to die with dignity?[/quote] Suicide is a sin, but it's still your choice and if there are people out there who are willing to aid those who wish to end their lives, they too are committing a sin, but God plays no part in what you and they choose to do while you are one of the QUICK, that situation changes, as I said before, only when you join the dead and you meet your maker, as we are all going to do sooner or later.
Justin wrote:
T.Ruth wrote, "all the atheists I had to wheel down to the mortuary, died with an agonised look on their faces, which very oddly and disturbingly remained on their faces after their death. On the other hand the believers in God always died with a peaceful look on their faces, which remained there". Yeah, of course, we all believe you! If Christians are not afraid of death, why do they spend so much time fighting the right of terminally ill people to die with dignity?
Suicide is a sin, but it's still your choice and if there are people out there who are willing to aid those who wish to end their lives, they too are committing a sin, but God plays no part in what you and they choose to do while you are one of the QUICK, that situation changes, as I said before, only when you join the dead and you meet your maker, as we are all going to do sooner or later.
Posted by: Leonard, Brighton on 12:28am Mon 8 Oct 07
Shame on the Church for even contemplating the closure of St Peter's.
What a pity the Argus isn't campaigning for something valued by so many of us in the way it campaigned for the Albion's stadium at Falmer.
More people go to church each weekend than go to watch football. Some churches like CCK, Bishop Hannington and St Mary Magdalen draw a much bigger crowd between just the three of them every single Sunday than the Albion manage about once a fortnight during the football season.
And church-goers are more likely to read a community newspaper than non-church-goers.
St Peter's should be a cause celebre for the Argus. If it can't stand up for a Brighton icon, what's it for? What's it worth? Not 35p, that's for sure.
St Peter's can be a church and more besides but the Argus and its readers need to mobilise to persuade the Church authorities that St Peter's must be saved.
Shame on the Church for even contemplating the closure of St Peter's.
What a pity the Argus isn't campaigning for something valued by so many of us in the way it campaigned for the Albion's stadium at Falmer.
More people go to church each weekend than go to watch football. Some churches like CCK, Bishop Hannington and St Mary Magdalen draw a much bigger crowd between just the three of them every single Sunday than the Albion manage about once a fortnight during the football season.
And church-goers are more likely to read a community newspaper than non-church-goers.
St Peter's should be a cause celebre for the Argus. If it can't stand up for a Brighton icon, what's it for? What's it worth? Not 35p, that's for sure.
St Peter's can be a church and more besides but the Argus and its readers need to mobilise to persuade the Church authorities that St Peter's must be saved.
Posted by: Harry, Portslade on 12:34am Mon 8 Oct 07
The sad fact is the lily-livered church authorities want St Peter's to shut.
It's only ordinary church goers and Argus readers who want it to remain a place of worship.
Shutting St Peter's will be another step along the road to rendering the chucrh irrelevant.
Letting them get away with it will be another step along a comparable road to irrelevance for the Argus.
The sad fact is the lily-livered church authorities want St Peter's to shut.
It's only ordinary church goers and Argus readers who want it to remain a place of worship.
Shutting St Peter's will be another step along the road to rendering the chucrh irrelevant.
Letting them get away with it will be another step along a comparable road to irrelevance for the Argus.
Posted by: Chris Petken, Currently attached to Royal Falkland Islands Police. on 1:13am Mon 8 Oct 07
I am utterly appalled at this decision. What St. peters actually needs is investment not condemnation. This ladnmark monument should have been uograded to be Brighton's cathederal.
It should be a glowing credit to our city not a pitiful eysore surrounded by a few lackluster lawns frequented by drunks. Develop it into a credit to the city.
I am utterly appalled at this decision. What St. peters actually needs is investment not condemnation. This ladnmark monument should have been uograded to be Brighton's cathederal.
It should be a glowing credit to our city not a pitiful eysore surrounded by a few lackluster lawns frequented by drunks. Develop it into a credit to the city.
Posted by: dubya, hove on 7:39am Mon 8 Oct 07
Turn it into flats, they would be fantastic!!!
Turn it into flats, they would be fantastic!!!
Posted by: /sue, Hove on 8:08am Mon 8 Oct 07
There were supposed consultations but the church of England decided years ago they were going close St Peters. They listen to no one. The chucrh of England is a disgrace.
There were supposed consultations but the church of England decided years ago they were going close St Peters. They listen to no one. The chucrh of England is a disgrace.
Posted by: Jo, Brighton on 9:03am Mon 8 Oct 07
Surely the church is about the congregation not the buildings. It shouldn't matter if they meet in someone's shed or a purpose built church. If a building becomes financ=ially unviable then another use will have to be found for it. If the christians want it then they should pay for it and not expect the rest of us to bail them out.
Surely the church is about the congregation not the buildings. It shouldn't matter if they meet in someone's shed or a purpose built church. If a building becomes financ=ially unviable then another use will have to be found for it. If the christians want it then they should pay for it and not expect the rest of us to bail them out.
Posted by: Reg Moores, Brighfon on 9:21am Mon 8 Oct 07
The heavy traffic on London & Lewes roads hasn't helped. Wonder if a Mosque will replace it? Reg
The heavy traffic on London & Lewes roads hasn't helped. Wonder if a Mosque will replace it? Reg
Posted by: bongo, shoreham on 1:06pm Mon 8 Oct 07
i think it would make a lovely lesbians in christianity spiritual guidance and healing centre,all it needs i a 3 million pound upgrade to be paid for by the good citizens of brighton and whats more i will run it for a mere £100,000 a year.it's a bargain how can they resist!
i think it would make a lovely lesbians in christianity spiritual guidance and healing centre,all it needs i a 3 million pound upgrade to be paid for by the good citizens of brighton and whats more i will run it for a mere £100,000 a year.it's a bargain how can they resist!
Posted by: Preston Park boys, Brighton on 2:15pm Mon 8 Oct 07
[quote][bold]Chris Petken[/bold] wrote:
I am utterly appalled at this decision. What St. peters actually needs is investment not condemnation. This ladnmark monument should have been uograded to be Brighton's cathederal. It should be a glowing credit to our city not a pitiful eysore surrounded by a few lackluster lawns frequented by drunks. Develop it into a credit to the city. [/quote] There is a common misperception that St Peters is or could be a "cathedral" for Brighton. However, a cathedral is a building in which is contained the "cathedra", that is, the seat of a bishop. The two denominations covering Brighton that have bishops are the Anglicans (C of E) and the Roman Catholics. Both denominations use a geographical area of jurisdiction which is called a "diocese". Brighton falls in the Anglican diocese of Chichester, and the Roman Catholic diocese of Arundel and Brighton, with respective cathedrals in Chichester (C of E) and Arundel (Roman Catholic). This means that in order to make St Peter's an Anglican cathedral, an Act of Parliament would need to be promulgated which created a new diocese (one would assume of Brighton and Hove) and a new diocesan bishop would need to be consecrated. Indeed, the last newly created anglican diocese and cathedral is Guildford. The Diocese of Guildford was formed in 1927 from part of the ancient Diocese of Winchester. Its cathedral, dedicated to The Holy Spirit, was built between 1936 and 1961 and is one of only two British Anglican cathedrals to be built on a new site since the Reformation - Liverpool is the other.
Of course, as most people will be aware, city status and cathedral status have absolutely no connection whatsoever.
St Peter's is Grade 2 listed, and as such is subject to some restrictions. There may also be a number of covenants attached to the building and the land which could have an impact on any future development on the site.
Perhaps a way forward would be to allow the redevelopment of the Chapel Royal's prime site on North Street, and sharing St Peter's (and the cost of its upkeep) as an ecumenical shared church between a number of denominations. Certainly the very large and increasing number of Roman Catholics attending Mass have put a strain on the existing buildings used by that denomination. This, along with sensitive community development on the site could ensure the building continues to be used.
Chris Petken wrote:
I am utterly appalled at this decision. What St. peters actually needs is investment not condemnation. This ladnmark monument should have been uograded to be Brighton's cathederal. It should be a glowing credit to our city not a pitiful eysore surrounded by a few lackluster lawns frequented by drunks. Develop it into a credit to the city.
There is a common misperception that St Peters is or could be a "cathedral" for Brighton. However, a cathedral is a building in which is contained the "cathedra", that is, the seat of a bishop. The two denominations covering Brighton that have bishops are the Anglicans (C of E) and the Roman Catholics. Both denominations use a geographical area of jurisdiction which is called a "diocese". Brighton falls in the Anglican diocese of Chichester, and the Roman Catholic diocese of Arundel and Brighton, with respective cathedrals in Chichester (C of E) and Arundel (Roman Catholic). This means that in order to make St Peter's an Anglican cathedral, an Act of Parliament would need to be promulgated which created a new diocese (one would assume of Brighton and Hove) and a new diocesan bishop would need to be consecrated. Indeed, the last newly created anglican diocese and cathedral is Guildford. The Diocese of Guildford was formed in 1927 from part of the ancient Diocese of Winchester. Its cathedral, dedicated to The Holy Spirit, was built between 1936 and 1961 and is one of only two British Anglican cathedrals to be built on a new site since the Reformation - Liverpool is the other.
Of course, as most people will be aware, city status and cathedral status have absolutely no connection whatsoever.
St Peter's is Grade 2 listed, and as such is subject to some restrictions. There may also be a number of covenants attached to the building and the land which could have an impact on any future development on the site.
Perhaps a way forward would be to allow the redevelopment of the Chapel Royal's prime site on North Street, and sharing St Peter's (and the cost of its upkeep) as an ecumenical shared church between a number of denominations. Certainly the very large and increasing number of Roman Catholics attending Mass have put a strain on the existing buildings used by that denomination. This, along with sensitive community development on the site could ensure the building continues to be used.
Posted by: Barry Bethnall, Hove on 2:22pm Mon 8 Oct 07
I think it would make a smashing Wetherspoons pub. After all, Jesus liked a drink. And he was poor.
I think it would make a smashing Wetherspoons pub. After all, Jesus liked a drink. And he was poor.
Posted by: Rosie, Brighton on 2:54pm Mon 8 Oct 07
[quote][bold]Leonard[/bold] wrote:
Shame on the Church for even contemplating the closure of St Peter's. What a pity the Argus isn't campaigning for something valued by so many of us in the way it campaigned for the Albion's stadium at Falmer. More people go to church each weekend than go to watch football. Some churches like CCK, Bishop Hannington and St Mary Magdalen draw a much bigger crowd between just the three of them every single Sunday than the Albion manage about once a fortnight during the football season. And church-goers are more likely to read a community newspaper than non-church-goers. St Peter's should be a cause celebre for the Argus. If it can't stand up for a Brighton icon, what's it for? What's it worth? Not 35p, that's for sure. St Peter's can be a church and more besides but the Argus and its readers need to mobilise to persuade the Church authorities that St Peter's must be saved. [/quote] [bold]More people go to church each weekend than go to watch football. Some churches like CCK, Bishop Hannington and St Mary Magdalen draw a much bigger crowd between just the three of them every single Sunday than the Albion manage about once a fortnight during the football season.
And church-goers are more likely to read a community newspaper than non-church-goers.
St Peter's should be a cause celebre for the Argus. If it can't stand up for a Brighton icon, what's it for? What's it worth? Not 35p, that's for sure.
St Peter's can be a church and more besides but the Argus and its readers need to mobilise to persuade the Church authorities that St Peter's must be saved.[/bold] I agree
Leonard wrote:
Shame on the Church for even contemplating the closure of St Peter's. What a pity the Argus isn't campaigning for something valued by so many of us in the way it campaigned for the Albion's stadium at Falmer. More people go to church each weekend than go to watch football. Some churches like CCK, Bishop Hannington and St Mary Magdalen draw a much bigger crowd between just the three of them every single Sunday than the Albion manage about once a fortnight during the football season. And church-goers are more likely to read a community newspaper than non-church-goers. St Peter's should be a cause celebre for the Argus. If it can't stand up for a Brighton icon, what's it for? What's it worth? Not 35p, that's for sure. St Peter's can be a church and more besides but the Argus and its readers need to mobilise to persuade the Church authorities that St Peter's must be saved.
More people go to church each weekend than go to watch football. Some churches like CCK, Bishop Hannington and St Mary Magdalen draw a much bigger crowd between just the three of them every single Sunday than the Albion manage about once a fortnight during the football season.
And church-goers are more likely to read a community newspaper than non-church-goers.
St Peter's should be a cause celebre for the Argus. If it can't stand up for a Brighton icon, what's it for? What's it worth? Not 35p, that's for sure.
St Peter's can be a church and more besides but the Argus and its readers need to mobilise to persuade the Church authorities that St Peter's must be saved. I agree
Posted by: d raeburn, brighton on 9:32pm Mon 8 Oct 07
me thinks a senior housing strategy officer of BHCC has to muchess time on thier well paid hands to be posting comments in my name.
me thinks a senior housing strategy officer of BHCC has to muchess time on thier well paid hands to be posting comments in my name.
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