User:Emmalouh/trinitycentre

Trinity Centre
The Trinity Centre is a grade II* listed building in Lawrence Hill, Bristol, formerly the Holy Trinity Church, Lawrence Hill. The building is protected by a covenant, which states that it is to only be used for community, arts, youth and education services. This covenant has influenced much of the building's recent use over the last 50 years.

1960s
The Holy Trinity Church of St Philip & St Jacob finally closed due to dwindling congregations and lack of money. The building sat empty for a decade, spiralling ever further into disrepair, due to vandalism and looting.

1970s
Discontent amongst black and minority ethnic young people escalated due to unemployment and increasing clashes with the police. Local leaders looking to ease tensions agreed for Trinity to be deconsecrated and given to the public, for use as a community centre, with a focus on activities for young people.

The building was transferred to the African-Caribbean Community Association (also known as the Bristol Caribbean Community Enterprise Group) with a 50 year lease, under the management of Mr Roy de Freitas. The group carried out extensive repairs and alternations to the building, including the installation of a second floor. On the 1st July 1978 - the same day as St Paul’s Festival, now called Carnival - Trinity Community Centre was opened to the public.

1980s
In 1984 The Group went into insolvency due to financial mismanagement. Allegations were rife Mr de Freitas had embezzled funds and fled to Jamaica. However, it eventually transpired that he was in fact living with his sister in Clevedon, having sold his own house to pay off Trinity debts.

The 50 year lease that had been granted to the community was prematurely terminated and by default the building was transferred to the local authority.

1990s
After a spell of sitting empty, Bristol City Council put building out to tender and it was taken on by the New Trinity Community Association in 1991. The new tenants and a dedicated team of volunteers began an extensive round of development and renovations, which included the installation of the sprung wooden floor downstairs.

The Centre reopened in 1992 and it was under this new management that Trinity would gain international fame. During this era, Trinity played host to the biggest domestic and international music stars of the time such as U2 and The Wailers. This helped to bring Bristol to the world's attention, contributing to the birth of The Bristol Sound.

As well as the successful music nights there were also daytime community activities. From bingo madness to a boxing club the two levels provided a much needed space for everyone to use.

Shifting funds away from community centres towards Millennium Projects coupled with a series of financial problems, echoing those which led to the demise of the previous Group, Trinity was forced to close once again in 2000.

Today
In 2001, Trinity Community Arts formed to reopen the Trinity Centre. Funding was received through the Bristol Objective 2 Action Plan - a strategic development fund across the City, designed to address social, economic and environmental decline and disadvantage - to improve access within the building and make it fit for use by the community. Since reopening in 2004, it has become a prominent arts venue within Bristol.