Talks include looking at the changing nature of marriage photo @ Khali Ackford

2018 Talk Series

Programmed as part of our Heart & Soul heritage project we will be welcoming national and international speakers to our evening talks, devised in collaboration with Bristol's Architecture Centre and the University of West England (UWE).

The series looks at the challenges and achievements of transforming and preserving historic buildings.

Speakers include: renown Architect Tim Rolands (20 March), known for his development of Jacksons Lane Arts Centre, who will share his unique perspective on transforming historic buildings; Mexican Architect and UWE Senior Lecturer Fidel Meraz (27 Feb) will share his experience of the challenges and successes of transforming a range of disused churches into community hubs; Marcus Hammond, curator of Linconshire's arts centre Slumgothic x-church (17 April) who will draw upon personal experience to explore how 'unfinished' spaces attract new audiences.

Not all transformations end in success, former Drum Art Centre employee Mukhtar Dar, will consider the rise and fall of the Drum (Birmingham) in his talk The Life & Death of an Arts Centre (1 May)

Prof. Brian Heaphy will explore the diversity of marital union in Britain today in his talk From Weddings To Civil Partnerships (29 May) and UWE's Senior Lecturer in Planning Dr Katie McClymont (19 June) will consider how historic buildings, particularly former churches, are now used as sites of secular worship and as community hubs.

Vanguard of Gentrification (10 July) draws together a panel of commentators to explore one of the most contentious and relevant issues in Bristol today. We will close the series of talks with a panel of Trinity's former and current management members, who will discuss the pitfalls and successes of Reconstructing Trinity from Disrepair to Glory (31 July)

Find out more about the talks and how to reserve your free place here and read Heritage intern Tess' notes on our Tuesday talk series.

About the project

Heart and Soul: Trinity in the Community is a celebration of big life events at Trinity. Throughout 2018 there will workshops, talks and heritage activities for all ages. The project runs along side our most recent capital works and has been made possible with the help of these funders.

You can find out more about Heart and Soul: Trinity in the Community here, including how to get involved and how to contribute archive material here.

Thanks to the support of our funders all events in our Heart & Soul project are free. We suggest donation of £2 that will go directly back into Trinity's charitable work.

Help us secure Trinity's past, present and future

Vice & Virtue took a look beneath the area's reputation to explore the many cultures that have lived here, its national significance as an area of architectural conservation and key moments of historical interest.

Themes included: the riots of 1932, the British and GI experience, business, trade and leisure in Old Market, the sex industry, the Gay quarter and new communities in Old Market.

The project - funded by Heritage Lottery Fund, Quartet Community Foundation and the Old Market Community Association - consisted of oral history and reminiscence activities designed to encourage members of the community, of all ages, to share their experiences, photos, documents and memorabilia.

This rigorously researched project built upon existing online and hard copy archive information. It culminated in an exhibition, book and heritage trail featuring all the work gathered through the project.

Old Market history

Much coverage given to the area often refers to it as having a 'seedy reputation'. Comments from other residents and traders have worked to counter this image, including Mr Ferris, a local publican commenting in a local newspaper article, “It's amazing we've done so well in the recession...more and more people are choosing to live here.”

Paul Bradburn, Chair of the Old Market Community Association said; “a project that celebrates the rich heritage of the area and allows the general community to appreciate that heritage will be a great benefit to the people of Bristol”.

The Vice & Virtue Project ran from Autumn 2013-Spring 2015.

Buy the book here!

Abi & Jack's Wedding at Trinity Centre

"Everybody wanted to get married there at that Trinity Church. My Auntie Marge and Auntie Iris got married there, I was bridesmaid there. What I do remember is where the vicar used to stand, it was a lovely eagle that he had the Bible on that he used to read the service from." Gloria, recorded on 22nd August 2018

Designed by our awesome intern Tess Sieling (who alongside her archive work has spent the year blogging about the Heart & Soul project) the booklet presents a sample of weddings, wakes and parties spanning the life of Trinity. View the booklet in its full glory here, or you can pick up one of the limited printed copies from Trinity. Previous heritage projects include What's Your Trinity Story and Vice & Virtue.

What's Your Trinity Story? - funded by Heritage Lottery Fund Your Heritage Grant - featured an an oral history and archiving project about Trinity from 1960-today, with specific reference to its role as a music and community venue.

"The Trinity Centre has a fascinating history, and the Heritage Lottery Fund is really pleased to support this inspiring project which will capture what it has meant to people over the last 50 years." Nerys Watts, South West Heritage Lottery Fund Head of Region

Trinity's history

Trinity is probably best known for its role in the music scene of the 1990s, when it played host to some of the biggest domestic and international music stars of the time. Trinity's stage has been graced by the likes of U2, The Wailers and Public Enemy as well as local talents such as Massive Attack. It hosted many famous artists notably from the punk, and reggae genres, and was an important landmark in the globally exported "Bristol Sound" prominent during this era.

The space has also had a number of roles within the community over the years - from a bingo hall to a boxing ring - and is now run as a community arts centre with regular training, projects and events.

The heritage project consisted of workshop activities and sessions designed to engage the community of all ages in sharing their experiences and stories of the space. It involved detailed research to culminate in a final exhibition, book and online archive.

Click here to read the full evaluation report.

Revisiting the Drum: The life and death of an arts centre

Evening talk by Mukhtar Dar, presented as part of Heart & Soul project

Artist, producer, Mukhtar Dar explores the factors that might lead some historic transformations to succeed and others to fail. The demise of Birmingham art centre, The Drum, offers a poignant case study.

Reserve your place by following the ticket link or phoning 0117 935 1200.

About the project

Heart & Soul: celebrating major life events at Trinity Bristol. Throughout 2018 there will workshops, talks and heritage activities for all ages. The project runs along side our most recent capital works and has been made possible with the help of these funders .

You can find out more about the project, including how to get involved and how to contribute archive material here.

Trinity Centre, finally revealed photo @ Sarah Koury

After nearly a year of being covered by scaffolding we are finally set to reveal our iconic towers again after completing our programme of critical repair works.

“We have been overwhelmed by people’s support, generosity and love of Trinity,Support from funders and members of the public means that we’ve been able to secure the building’s future for generations to come and we want to say a big thank you to everyone involved. We will continue to work hard to make Trinity the diverse and pioneering community venue that the city deserves” Emma Harvey, Trinity Centre Director

Works to the centre, a Grade II* listed building, began in October 2017 as part of our long-term plan to conserve and renovate The Trinity Centre and protect its future, both as a community arts hub and also one Bristol’s most respected live-music venues.

In January 2018, investigations revealed extensive historic damage to the building, leaving the us to raise further funds to stop the building from further deterioration and prevent the former-church from being placed back onto Historic England’s ‘At Risk’ Register.

Following a public appeal to help secure Trinity’s past, present and future, we were fortunate to receive an uplift grant from Historic England, alongside support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Bristol City Council, other charitable Trusts & Foundations as well as generous donations from the public.

A 51 week critical work programme has been undertaken, overseen by Bristol-based Ferguson Mann Architects and construction firm Carrek – locally based specialists in historic conservation. Works included repairs to the roofing, stained glass windows and iconic ‘Trinity towers’, as well as intricate repair of the historic Bath-stone fabric of the building.

After a year long programme of conservation works the Trinity Centre awaits the removal of the final scaffolding (photo credit @Khali Ackford)

Since 2008, we have invested over £2 million in repairing and restoring the Trinity Centre - which is owned by Bristol City Council - transforming it from a dilapidated space into a thriving participatory arts centre for inner-city residents. These latest repair works are the final phase of repairs to restore the fabric of the building and further improvement works are planned, to increase the centre’s usability and sustainability.

Stonemasons take a break after inspecting their work, with East Bristol in the background (photo credit @Khali Ackford)

We had to prioritise what works we undertook meaning that we had to omit some of the planned sustainability improvements, such a second solar PV installation and solar battery storage as well as some additional sound proofing measures.

With Trinity Road Police Station earmarked for a possible residential development, we are aware how important these improvements are both for existing and potential new residents. Therefore we are committed to continuing to ensure there is investment in venue improvements in order to maximise use and sustain the building’s future.

Improvements to the building mean that centre we can continue to be home to over 160 community and voluntary groups who run a range of regular activities from dance classes for older people to the monthly Rhythm of the Night, a nightclub for adults with learning difficulties. We support community groups with over 1400 hours of free and subsidised hall space each year to ensure that the centre continues to provide invaluable public benefit. Activities like these are made possible in part through income generated through our car park and support from public donations.

“I’m 75 and still dancing – this means so much in term of fitness, socialising and even mental fitness. This wouldn’t be possible without Trinity – who provide amazing spaces for classes” says Adrian Longstaffe who attends Gerry’s Attic, a dance group held weekly at Trinity.

The Trinity Towers awaiting their big reveal (photo credit @Khali Ackford)

We will be celebrating the completion of these works at our celebratory ‘Heart & Soul’ event and AGM and warmly invite all to attend-  on 4 October.

You can play your part in Trinity’s future, by donating to Trinity and help support groups like Gerry’s Attic to find community, happiness and opportunity.  Donate online www.3ca.org.uk/donatenow, or text TR1N13 £5 to 70070

Stonemason Jim shows us the new stoneworks, replacing the damaged stone caused by corroded iron

“When they built this building, they just never expected it to last nearly 200 years” says Jim, who has been a stonemason for 10 years. He is using traditional skills to hand carve new stonework – mainly to replace rusted metal cramps and critically damaged stonework.

I am being taken on a tour of the building site by Shane, Trinity’s man for all things facilities. I am grateful for my hard hat as there is a lot of climbing the scaffolding. We climb right to the top and look to the farthest corner of the roof and see the pinnacle that Jim restored by hand.

The hand carved stonework is visible on the furthest pinnacle

As we go up hard not to notice the stained glass windows, many are buckled and bowed; a few put in upside down (possibly in the 1980’s restoration work); some cracked and others in a need of a deep clean.

The windows in the Graffiti Room are mid repair.

A boxing glove lost around the 80's is one of the many items found behind the windows come time capsules

Kerry, resident stained glass window expert, is carefully removing broken glass from a window on the north side of Trinity. By eye he manually cuts out a shape from some glass he has and skilfully places the glass between the lead, seals it and moves onto the next piece. He stands back and on the left is a window yet to do, and on the right is a window that is done. The contrast is quiet impressive.

Shane and I walk past an antenna that is attached to one of the towers (an echo back to the days when Trinity was host to its own community radio station) and head towards the West side of Trinity. Jim and his team have been busy up here, and you can see the repairs to the stoneworks, cracks that have been filled and hand carved stone replacing some of the most critically damaged stone.

I slowly edge towards the edge of the scaffolding and can see Old Market and further beyond, is central Bristol. It is a marvellous view, if not incredibly high. Going down is much easier than going up. Shane and I clamber down the ladders, past the stonemasons, the glaziers and site workers. I am grateful for my feet being back on the ground.

Walking to the edge of the scaffolding was really rather scary. But Bristol looked great

Back in January, with the scaffolding up, experts where able to do a full investigation that revealed the extensive critical historic damage to Trinity. These unexpected costs meant we launched our fundraising campaign to help us raise the much needed funds to undertake the critical repairs and have been overwhelmed by the support from funders and the public.

With only a few months left until the scaffolding comes down we need help to raise the much needed funds to undertake the critical repairs to Trinity. The public can help secure Trinity's past, present and future by donating directly to the campaign here.

What is clear is the commitment by the public, by us, by the craftsmen, the site workers, supporters and communities to renovating the Trinity Centre, ensuring that Trinity’s doors stay open for ours and for future generations.

Sarah Bentley (who really doesn't like heights ) Marketing Officer at Trinity

Help secure Trinity's past, present & future

People enjoying the sunshine photo @Jessica Bartolini

We want to say the biggest and most huge thank you to everyone who donated during garden party– we raised over £2800 in donations and that is just incredible. The funds raised will go directly into our Trinity Conservation Campaign , helping to secure Trinty’s past, future and present.

So to everyone who popped a few quid in the buckets or donated to the campaign directly online, we are very grateful.

An early afternoon performance by Bristol Samba photo credit @Jessica Bartolini

And, this year the sun really did hold out for Garden Party - didn't it.

Families and children enjoyed the circus skills workshops photo @Jessica Bartolini

Throughout the afternoon the garden was host to family workshops, with circus skills workshop from Invisible Youth and a beautiful puppetry performance by Bunraku Puppetry, followed by puppet making. Dancers from HYPE Dance, a weekly dance group based at Trinity, took over the Main Hall and Fyfe Hall for two flash performances and we welcomed back the ever popular drumming workshops.

Family friendly activities ran until mid afternoon and included a puppetry performance @Jessica Bartolini

Hype Dance performed two very high energy dances to crowds at Garden Party @Jessica Bartolini

On the Main Stage the line up included Baraka,Gardna x Kreed, Sunun with a great headlining set from Om Unit (who started a Roofs not Walls chant!) photo @Jessica Bartolini

Area of Effect opened up Garden Party with a punk set @Jessica Bartolini

Young performers from our collaborative Making Tracks project opened up Garden Party on the Main Stage with a set from Basement Studio’s Area of Effect and later on, Trinity Music Student Sam Neal played new songs from his EP (that he is recording here at Trinity). The Inside Stage saw performances from Trinity’s Louis Stone, Basements Ziggy Thewin and a very fun DJ set from Dj Lee Baker.

Students from our Making Tracks project played throughout the day @Jessica Bartolini

Headliner Om Unit playing to a packed crowd as the day draws to a close photo @Khali Ackford

An array of stall holders brought a great selection of handmade and bespoke goods, complemented by the world cuisines offered by the selection of food stalls and Dr Bike was on hand for everyones bike based needs.

Resident historian Dr Edson Burton teamed up with Lottie Story and took control of the MC’ing, introducing some great Trinity based history and introducing the talented artists and bands to the stage.

Lottie and Edson say a very good night and thank you to the crowd at Garden Party @Khali Ackford

Big up to the all the volunteers who helped out this year – and all the staff members, security, stall holders and artists who helped make the day happen. We had over 2000 people come to our annual free Garden Party, it was very busy!

For more pics of this years Garden Party head over to our Trinity Facebook page or follow us on Instagram.

See you all next year, and thanks everyone for your donations. We couldn't do this without you.

New intern Davontay Benjamin checks out the damage to the stone with specialists.

Last October, work commenced a 11 month project to undertake vital repairs to the building's fabric and structure.

Enabled through the help of Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic England, Allchurches Trust and 13 other funders, as well as generous donations from members of the public, works began on the lead-roof, original stained glass windows and stonework structure, including the iconic Georgian towers.

With full scaffolding in place, specialists have been able to undertake a more comprehensive metalwork survey. Investigations to metal cramps that hold the stonework in place, reveal the damage to the building is far worse than anticipated.

If we don't do these works now, Trinity will be placed back onto Historic England's At - Risk Register. In real terms this means we are going to have to raise an additional estimated £200k other wise Trinity will be at risk of closure- and we need your help to do that.

How you can help

Trinity is and has always been a central part of the community. Our mission it to keep it that way and protect the building's future and to ensure that Trinity’s doors stay open.

A donation, however big or small, will help us to bridge the gap and ensure we are able to complete these important repairs.

Your support will secure the future of our much-loved community space.

Click here to donate today.

Some of the damaged stoneworks

Get involved

Last year Trinity was used by over 50,000 people. Everyone has a story about Trinity - attending a gig, taking part in a community garden activities, taking part in one of the many community led programmes or even being one of the 200 young people attending our bespoke music courses.

If you're interested in becoming a part of our heritage story - a part of a community and a part of this much-loved building's journey - why not get involved in our Heart & Soul Heritage project? Click here for more info...

Trinity Community Arts (TCA) has been awarded funding from Heritage Lottery Fund for the Trinity Centre Conservation Project.

Funding for an initial development phase will enable the centre to carry out surveys of the Grade II* listed building, in order to come up with a plan for repair works in 2017. Works will focus on repairs to the north aisle and slate roof, original stained glass window and stonework.

Over the last few years, there has been much investment to improve the Trinity Centre's facilities. With a footfall of over 50,000 each year, the planned repair works will help to ensure the community arts centre can continue long into the future.

Emma Harvey, Centre Manager of Trinity said; “Thanks previous support from English Heritage and the Big Lottery Fund, The Trinity Centre was removed English Heritage At Risk Register in 2014. However, with an old building like this, there is still much work to be done to repair the building. This support from Heritage Lottery Fund will help to ensure the community can continue to enjoy the space for decades to come."

The project will compliment previous capital repair and redevelopment works and will be the final major-works phase relating to the repair and conservation of the historic fabric. The capital works programme will be complimented by a range of heritage learning activities, including training in traditional heritage trades.

Alongside funding from Heritage Lottery Fund, the project development phase has also been supported by the Ashley, Easton, Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Partnership and the Quartet Community Foundation, with other supporters including Bristol's Rotary Club and Burgess Salmon.

Over the next year, the Trinity team will be working to raise the total funds needed to carry out the repair works and there will also be a number of job opportunities relating to the project. If you are interested in showing your support for the project or would like to know more visit: www.3ca.org.uk/activities/renovation for more information.

About Trinity's heritage

The Trinity Centre, Bristol, has been a diverse hub of community arts activities since its de-consecration as a place of worship in 1976. The building has been a prominent music venue for 50 years and has played host to a spectacular role-call of acts, becoming an important landmark in the globally exported 'Bristol Sound'.

Built between 1829-1832, the 'Waterloo Church' is considered to be one of the finest examples of the work of architects Thomas Rickman and Henry Hutchinson. Trinity is an important Grade II* listed building, which retains significant townscape value in the context of Old Market Conservation Area, defined as "an area of special architectural or historic interest, the character and appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance."

Trinity's 41 stained-glass windows are one of the most striking but neglected features of the building. Built in an English Gothic Revival style, most of the mullioned windows and clerestory feature non-pictorial stained glass and have a Geometric Patten style using simple shapes. The building features a pictorial stained-glass panel in one of the South-East façade windows, with classical figures set against a background of vibrant colours, flanked by diaper quarries and foliage.

Trinity is situated within one of the most culturally diverse and economically deprived areas of the South West. Race, migration and the changing demographic of the surrounding area have played an important role in the history of the building. Over the years, the building has been managed by different community groups, who have all had a role to play in making the centre what it is today.

The Trinity Centre Conservation Project will help to explore some of this history and provide opportunities for people to share their stories and experiences, as well as learn about traditional heritage trades. Visit our Archive for more information.

Image by Jane Porter, BCC

Portishead legend and Bristol-Sound pioneer Adrian Utley, together with world-renowned musician and guitarist John Parish, describe why they support Trinity's Notes for Notes Appeal in an interview, now available on You Tube

During the interview, John and Adrian explained why they are supporting the Trinity Centre by creating the "Trinity Anthem" for the Appeal, and Adrian goes on to remember his time performing with Portishead at Trinity back in the '90s.

For every £5 received in donation to the Appeal, Trinity will exchange a virtual musical note, and once 4,000 notes have been exchanged (£20,000), Adrian and John will release the Trinity Anthem - a unique piece of music that reflects and celebrates Trinity's rich 40 year musical heritage.

To support the Appeal, donate on our Just Giving page or by text to ROOF31 £5 to 70070

With thanks to Charlie Tothill, Chris Price (film & edition), Memotone (music).

Adesola Akinleye & the Ila Dance project, Trinity's Garden Party 2017, image by Jessica Bartolini

“We are delighted to support the proposed improvements to Trinity – a very significant and important Grade II* listed Georgian building. For many years, Trinity Centre has been an excellent example of a building where the local community has been involved in its ongoing improvement and in the provision of an ever increasing range of activities and initiatives. This work continues to the present day and into the future. We wish Trinity Centre our ongoing support in securing the funds necessary to secure the future of both the building and of the important activities which it accommodates.” Bristol Civic Society

We are excited to announce Trinity Centre has been granted National Lottery funding to carry out essential repairs to the building. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) have pledged £362,800 towards our Capital Repairs project that will include fixing the iconic towers, North aisle roof, stained glass windows and Bath stonework.  Historic England have also shown their support for the capital works, with a grant of £106,099.

A further £97k has also been raised from other supporters including Bristol City Council, Cory Environmental Trust Britain, the Pilgrim Trust, and ​Nisbets Trust​ as well as support through individual donations and a Crowdfunder appeal.  Other trusts who have supported the capital works to take place include The Sylvia Waddilove Foundation, The Bramble Trust and local heritage foundation The Gibbs Trust.  

Bristol Ageing Better and The Swire Charitable Trust are also supporting towards costs of activities, to include workshops in traditional heritage trades, a series of talks and a range of activities for children and families including heritage trails and quests to find out more about local history.

We are now looking to raise the remaining raise remaining £140k match-funding needed to cover the total costs of the project.

We still need help in raising the remaining 20% needed to complete the repairs. You can pledge your support via Trinity’s Just Giving page: visit ​www.3ca.org.uk/donate for more info, donate by Text Giving with ROOF 31 and your donation amount to 70070,  download the Trinity Anthem or buy some of our merch from our marketplace.

Car park closures, better building and a secured future

Thanks to help from the Heritage Lottery Fund and match funders, alongside donations gifted from the public we are finally at a point where we can put scaffolding around the building and begin to embark on major and much needed repairs to the stonework. Alongside the most damaged masonry we will be fixing the windows so the building will be cleaner and lighter.

Access to The Trinity Centre will stay the same but during the 45 weeks the scaffolding is up our car park capacity will be severely reduced so anyone visiting us should think about alternative parking or modes of transport.

Now we have got this far we are going to be raising the funds to complete works on all the masonry (not just the most severely damaged as we had planned). Fund-raising for this now will mean we ensure that Trinity stays open for future generations and by doing the extra work now means we can limit the impact both on the public and financially.

To celebrate Trinity's history we will be launching a series of events, talks, and courses in artisan crafts to compliment the works. You can  find out more about the project here. To keep up-to-date and informed about the project sign up to our mailing list at 3ca.org.uk/mail or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Works due to start 2 Oct for 45 weeks.