A circus school? Surely not.

But that is exactly what has been happening in St Paul’s, Bristol, over the last decade. Come in and have a look...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fusing historic and modern

St Paul's is a unique space in an unrivalled location - a Grade I Gothick building with 21st century specification set in an 18th century Georgian Square…and with the largest permanently rigged flying trapeze in the UK – but it wasn’t always the case.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much work to be done

St Paul’s was a broken shell when it came to the Churches Conservation Trust.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With a repair bill in the millions, in a neglected and unlovely part of town, it was hard to see what the future was for this beautiful but closed building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It took vision and determination, and the commitment from a range of partners to do all that was needed to bring it back into repair and use.

A future in new life

 

Circomedia, a leading circus skills and physical performance school, already based in Bristol, were able to have the vision to see what the space could be for them. The CCT were able to fuse this with the skilled conservation work required to put together a comprehensive and appealing bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the repair, conservation and adaptation works.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read more about the conservation project here

The joint effort has succeeded in making it what it is today. With an international reputation, and a central role in its local community, it is a centre of creativity for the 21st century that pays a spectacular and revitalised tribute to its 18th century heritage of craftsmanship and excellence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It has helped secure the regeneration of a previously very run down and neglected part of Bristol, and give something to the local community that residents take pride in - there have been no reported incidents of vandalism since Circomedia took occupation of the building.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Broad based creative business

But its not just circus and physical theatre that St Paul’s is used for. In 2007/08 St Paul’s hosted:

 

 

• 4 weddings
• 4 birthday parties
• 4 corporate events
• 4 film screening events
• 2 arts conferences
• 15 photoshoots or filming at the church
• 42 community events including local charity AGMs, café at the circus, presentations and celebrations by local charities, etc
• 28 performances, including several long runs, community theatre, choral and music performances etc
• 25 workshops (dance, meditation, voice, personal development etc) and various training events

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Award winning inspiration

In recognition of the sensitive and high quality restoration carried out by CCT, as well as Circomedia’s innovative and inclusive use of St Paul’s Church, we attracted a European Nostra Laureate award and won the Community Benefit category of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors national awards – what more could you ask from a “redundant” church?

See our trophy cabinet and read about other award winning projects