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.

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.