St. John's church in Stourbridge has recently been put up for sale. It has attracted many builders and property developers. Unlike other property devlopers that want to convert the church into flats, we want to purchase it in order to keep it as a community building.
I currently run a circus school called Danse Vivante. We teach over 400 people every week classes in aerial silks, aerial hoop, acrobats and more. We also run non profit youth education programs in dance and circus that are very popular. We would like to use the church to house classes that require bigger equipment such as flying trapeze. These would be the only flying trapeze classes this side of England!
In addition to using the open space for our own classes, we would like to open it up for other groups and hobbies to use as well. From acting classes to singing, bird watching groups to the Boy Scouts we believe it can be shared by all.
The church needs major repairs including a whole new roof which we are willing to take on. We would not be changing the church structure only repairing it like for like under the listed buildings consent and rules.
The Church of England are already aware of Danse vivante and what we do. They have been very supportive in helping us find a suitable church property to purchase for our educational programs. We would not require any council funding, we generate our own finances to fully fund this.
If you would like to see St. John's church remain as a community building for all types of activities and hobbies including our circus classes then please please please sign our petition and show your support. Too many churches are lost to property developers, let's not see St Johns go the same way!!
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
May 21, 2017
May 19, 2017
Reaching this level of visibility has been exhausting but deeply validating. Seeing so many people recognize the value of keeping this space open makes the uphill battle feel slightly less lonely. I am tired but I am not stopping.
May 19, 2017
The emails from developers have become constant and draining as they push to turn our local space into luxury flats. I spend my nights balancing circus account books against repair estimates for that roof because this place deserves a future that includes us all.
Reached 100 supporters
May 16, 2017
May 16, 2017
The days are long and the obstacles remain high but seeing this climb keeps me moving forward. We are almost at one hundred signatures and I need you to help push us over this ledge today. Please send this link to someone who believes in saving our space.
146 Comments
What a great opportunity to preserve a beautiful building and benefit the community as well as provide an ideal training space for an unusual educational programme. Danse Vivante are to be commended and, better still, they are self-funding!
As a Dance teacher myself, I know the importance of having places like this for our young people to rehearse and develop their skills in various art forms. We need more places like this to nurture talent not fewer! Let's hope people take notice and start listening to the demands of the local community.
community building of this nature are few and far between and although we need houses we need to keep young people occupied and keep them off the streets. we need to have places for lonely people to go for company and shared interests.
A lot of the pews have already been removed from the Church. The ones that are left there, if we do get to buy the church will be kept how they are. The local heritage and listed building consent will probably want that also and were more than happy to follow those rules :)
Great opportunity to bring something new and different to stourbridge! An already successful and popular business that will bring people into the town.
Built by the the community by the people for the community.
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St. John's church in Stourbridge has recently been put up for sale. It has attracted many builders and property developers. Unlike other property devlopers that want to convert the church into flats, we want to purchase it in order to keep it as a community building.
I currently run a circus school called Danse Vivante. We teach over 400 people every week classes in aerial silks, aerial hoop, acrobats and more. We also run non profit youth education programs in dance and circus that are very popular. We would like to use the church to house classes that require bigger equipment such as flying trapeze. These would be the only flying trapeze classes this side of England!
In addition to using the open space for our own classes, we would like to open it up for other groups and hobbies to use as well. From acting classes to singing, bird watching groups to the Boy Scouts we believe it can be shared by all.
The church needs major repairs including a whole new roof which we are willing to take on. We would not be changing the church structure only repairing it like for like under the listed buildings consent and rules.
The Church of England are already aware of Danse vivante and what we do. They have been very supportive in helping us find a suitable church property to purchase for our educational programs. We would not require any council funding, we generate our own finances to fully fund this.
If you would like to see St. John's church remain as a community building for all types of activities and hobbies including our circus classes then please please please sign our petition and show your support. Too many churches are lost to property developers, let's not see St Johns go the same way!!
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
May 21, 2017
May 19, 2017
Reaching this level of visibility has been exhausting but deeply validating. Seeing so many people recognize the value of keeping this space open makes the uphill battle feel slightly less lonely. I am tired but I am not stopping.
May 19, 2017
The emails from developers have become constant and draining as they push to turn our local space into luxury flats. I spend my nights balancing circus account books against repair estimates for that roof because this place deserves a future that includes us all.
Reached 100 supporters
May 16, 2017
May 16, 2017
The days are long and the obstacles remain high but seeing this climb keeps me moving forward. We are almost at one hundred signatures and I need you to help push us over this ledge today. Please send this link to someone who believes in saving our space.
146 Comments
My granddaughter goes to this amazing dance school she has come so far As the classes are getting bigger they really could do with a bigger space
What a great opportunity to preserve a beautiful building and benefit the community as well as provide an ideal training space for an unusual educational programme. Danse Vivante are to be commended and, better still, they are self-funding!
As a Dance teacher myself, I know the importance of having places like this for our young people to rehearse and develop their skills in various art forms. We need more places like this to nurture talent not fewer! Let's hope people take notice and start listening to the demands of the local community.
community building of this nature are few and far between and although we need houses we need to keep young people occupied and keep them off the streets. we need to have places for lonely people to go for company and shared interests.
A lot of the pews have already been removed from the Church. The ones that are left there, if we do get to buy the church will be kept how they are. The local heritage and listed building consent will probably want that also and were more than happy to follow those rules :)
Great opportunity to bring something new and different to stourbridge! An already successful and popular business that will bring people into the town.
Built by the the community by the people for the community.
X
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My granddaughter goes to this amazing dance school she has come so far As the classes are getting bigger they really could do with a bigger space