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The Exhibition and Launch day on October 29th 2007 was a great success. Over 250 people visited the exhibition with around 100 there for the launch. There was great interest and support for our plans, with the Dean of Leicester Cathedral (standing in for the Bishop of Leicester), and Revd Alison Tomlin Methodist Chair of our District) both warmly supporting the project. The Lord Mayor of Leicester, Gary Hunt, based across the road in the Town Hall, was especially enthused by the possibilities, and stayed on for a further two hours, touring the building, and considering the ways we couild contribute to the regeneration of the city centre, and the life of the City.

The picture above show, from left to right:

• the foyer, with refreshments and displays
• The exhibition of Bishop Street Church Life
• The Heritage and Archive room
• Shelly Arthur explaining the project
• jostling for space to see the displays in the Church.

Our Heritage Throughout its 190 year history, Bishop Street Church has been a central focal point for both Methodist Church life in the city and as a place of interaction within the wider community. During the 19th century the Church was responsible for: the Leicester Wesleyan Benevolent Society for the relief of the afflicted poor; three schools, catering for over 500 children; soup kitchens, feeding over 5,600 children. Since that time it has been a meeting place for all sorts of activities, clubs and community meetings, and much more. Mission Statement Bishop Street Methodist Church … serving people in Leicester City Centre. In serving we have a mission to: • embody the message of the love of God for all people; • prioritise activities which contribute to well-being and spiritual growth; • give special support to those marginalised by society; • provide accessible ways in which people can encounter Christian faith.

Building on our Heritage Bishop Street Methodist Church occupies a uniquely central position among the places of worship in Leicester. It is situated on the Town Hall Square and now takes its place among a range of distinguished, predominantly late nineteenth-century and early twentiethcentury ‘institutional’ buildings, including the Reference Library, the Central Post Office, several banks and the Town Hall itself. This prominence is, however, largely the result of a historical accident. When the Church was erected in 1815 (the oldest purpose-built place of Methodist worship in the City) it was in the much less prestigious area next to the cattle market. It is the only building in this part of Leicester to predate the laying out of the Town Hall Square and the construction of the Town Hall. Its symmetrical, classical facade and its position, set back on the shady side of the square, ensure that it blends with the later buildings and appears at home amid these monuments to nineteenth-century provincial respectability. We want to make this beautiful and historic building more accessible and useful to the people of Leicester City Centre.

Looking to the Future — Our Redevelopment Scheme

The redevelopment scheme continues Bishop Street Methodist Church’s long-established commitment to serving people in Leicester City Centre. The improvements we are planning will enable us to do this more effectively. We aim to expand our role as a meeting place for people who come into the City, with cafe, exhibition, meeting and performance spaces for a wide variety of uses. We also want to offer facilities for use by the young people of the city.

We want the heritage of our historic building to be more accessible to the people of Leicester and at the same time secure a sustainable future for our tradition of spirituality and service.

We are proposing a scheme to refurbish and upgrade our church buildings which will encompass our chapel, the basement and the community rooms. We want to make these spaces more accessible to the disabled, provide new toilets, better more energy-efficient heating and lighting, and improved decor.

Accessible meeting rooms will mean a wider user base can be accommodated. The refurbished chapel will have much greater flexibility of use while protecting and sustaining its heritage. Our vision is that the area where we worship will be open to the public all through the week, with a fair trade cafe, high quality performance venue; and an exhibition space that can showcase our own heritage, activities and concerns and the work of local groups, charities and organisations. The serenity and beauty of this historic space will be accessible to the people of Leicester, not only during special events, but every day.

The Launch and Exhibition will provide an opportunity to see the plans we are developing; find out our venue name; and share your thoughts on the heritage and future of Bishop Street Methodist Church.

Serving People in Leicester City Centre

The Exhibition will be open from 10.00am to 8.00pm. It will include a display of plans and proposals for our redevelopment scheme. There will also be features on a wide range of City Centre activities in which Methodists are involved – taking forward the aim of serving people in Leicester City Centre. The exhibitors to include:–

Bishop Street Methodist Church — Looking to the Future

Fountainhead Community

Street Pastors Leicester

Methodist City Centre Missioner

Christ in the Centre

Prayer for the City

CND

Maitri Project

Alcoholics Anonymous

Sewing Group

New Life Covenant Congregation

Heritage Project

Eco Congregation

Just Fairtrade

New English Design

Leicester Council of Faiths

SPCK

Childcare Information Centre

Mosaic

and others

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