Church defends decision to sell 'historic' Bristol building as community groups face uncertain future

A church has defended its decision to put a 'historic' Bristol building up for sale, following calls for it be retained as a community space.

The former United Reformed Church on West Street in Bedminster has been put on the market for £500,000, with estate agents Perry Bishop saying the site has "great possibility for redevelopment".

The church say they had to list it for sale after the congregation that uses it shut last year and they were unable to find a community church to take over the building.

But the building is still used by community groups including the BS3 Repair Cafe, the South Bristol Toy Library and the Bedminster Food Club, who have been told to find a new home by the end of April.

A United Reformed Church spokesperson said the small congregation of Bedminster United Reformed Church decided last year that it was time to close.

Andy Jackson, head of communications for United Reformed Church, told BristolWorld: "This is because there weren’t many regular worshippers and that the congregation was ageing, impacting on who could help run the church.

"All churches need worshippers and volunteers to help manage the premises and to pay for its upkeep, especially with a large set of buildings like those at Bedminster.

"“The loss of income after the Covid lockdown, which many churches have yet to recover from, along with the huge increases with power and other running costs means that some churches have had no choice but to take the heartbreaking decision to close."

He added that the ongoing activities at the building are 'essential' to the community and the congregation asked that whoever takes over or purchases the premises is mindful of this.

"The interest from local councillors, the mayor and the local MP will no doubt impact any planning permission that might be sought after any sale," he said.

"Sadly, we were unable to find a community church to take over the building and so we are bound by charity law to follow the legal process - selling the property commercially.

"Many church buildings are sold conditionally, with what are called covenants, as is the case with Bedminster."

Local people, groups and councillors have expressed concern about the sale of the 19th century building and the groups that use it.

On Facebook, Way Out West, the neighbourhood improvement group on West Street, asked: "Anybody got £500K to save the United Reformed Church on West Street for the community?

"We've tried to persuade the South West Synod to recognise its importance as a community hub, but we fear we'll soon be seeing another residential block on West Street.

"The BS3 Repair Cafe , the South Bristol Toy Library, the Bedminster Food Club and other groups have been given until April to find new homes. Unless a developer with a heart comes along with plans for a mixed use site: anybody out there?"

Local Labour councillor for Bedminster, Mark Bradshaw, thanked Way Out West for highlighting "the loss of community space in the former United Reformed Church building on West Street".

He wrote on Facebook: "I’m keen to work with the displaced community organisations needing to find a new home.

"When news of the United Reformed Church disposal first came up, I got in contact with possible investors about how the site might be repurposed to include space for the community. Those discussions are ongoing."

While on Twitter, Green councillor for Bedminster, Tessa Fitzjohn, added that the building is "a very important community space, and could be the catalyst to regenerate West Street".

All users of the building have been contacted and told that the closing date is the end of April, the United Reformed Church said.

The viewings for potential purchasers are taking place on January 31 and February 14 with an offers deadline of the end of February, which the church added is "in the hope that a sale can be progressed to avoid the community activities having to move or to stop".