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The St Stephen's Project – summary
The sharing of
a multi-functional space in a 1000 year-old consecrated building
in the heart of Exeter.
● The aim of the St Stephen's Project is
to support local community and charitable groups by providing a
shared and accessible venue - St Stephen's - with appropriate
facilities in the very centre of Exeter. St Stephen's stands on
a central site in a commercially thriving city centre and has
been a beacon of continuity in an ever-changing city for about
1000 years - including being the only building in this part of
Exeter to survive the 'blitz' in 1942. It opens directly onto
Exeter High Street with thousands of pedestrians passing its
doors each day. ● Currently, about 80 charitable
and community organisations share use of St Stephen's to
publicise their activities, recruit members and raise essential
funds for their cause. There is no charge for such use - the
cost of heating, lighting, insurance etc. is shared by all.
● Regeneration of Exeter city centre has recently been
completed. The Project complements this commercial activity by
providing a centrally-located venue and facilities for a variety
of non-commercial community activities. Such use has expanded in
recent years in a building that requires much repair and
refurbishment to make it 'fit for purpose' for 21st century
community sharing. ● A rebuilding master-plan,
first prepared in 2004, provides five distinct and independent
phases to the Project. While linked in sequence to each other,
the five phases each stand alone and are commenced only when
funds to pay for the proposed changes in that phase are
accessible; each also allows for continued use of St Stephen's
should funding for the next phase become difficult. The five
phases are: high level external repair to the roof and tower;
low level repair to the walls and ceiling; the provision of
internal community facilities; the re-opening of historic church
facilities, and a new entrance on the south side of the
building. The first phase has been completed and the works for
the fully-funded second phase are planned to commence in January
2011. Funds are currently being sought for the third 'community'
phase which includes a re-designed entrance from the High
Street, an internal ramp, changes to the levels of the floor to
permit wheelchair access, the provision of new meeting rooms and
a servery with emphasis on the needs of those experiencing
hearing, sight or mobility difficulty. New heating, lighting and
communication systems are also to be introduced. The fourth
phase allows for a pre-1350 sanctuary at the east end of the
building to be re-opened and the Saxon crypt (not officially
visited since 1826) to be explored. The fifth phase provides for
a new door and changes to the windows on the south side of the
building which will embrace more directly the newly
reconstructed city centre. A serious attempt is being made to
combine the old and the new as 1000 years of Exeter's history
meets the needs of a modern 21st century community.
● Management and financial control procedures for the St
Stephen's Project are in place and prize-winning architects have
been commissioned to guide this work. Architectural,
archaeological, structure, heating, lighting, accessibility,
safety and cost survey reports have been completed. All
necessary permissions to proceed have been obtained. Local and
national consultations with a variety of organisations indicate
strong support for the concept of shared community use of this
important Exeter landmark. Patrons of the St Stephen's Project
are the Lord Mayor of Exeter, the Bishop of Exeter and Exeter’s
Member of Parliament. ● While Phases 1 & 2 have
been fully funded, the priority is on raising the remaining
funds needed to complete Phase 3 and to follow this with the
less extensive phase 4 and 5. This Project is one of the largest community
efforts seen in Exeter involving scores of community groups and
a tried and tested volunteer organisation. What we currently
seek is support for the remaining Phases of
this important community initiative.
See the separate details of
the sums raised to date. No professional fundraiser is employed
and we aim to complete the project by the end of 2012. >>>
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