St Peter’s is being developed into an even more vibrant and welcoming cultural centre for the people of Sudbury and the surrounding area.
The building is not only a prominent landmark, it is also Sudbury’s main venue for large community events. It is exceptionally well used for a whole range of activities, but with leaking roofs, inadequate kitchen/bar space, and lack of toilets, the long-term use of the building is uncertain. It is in need of urgent repairs and new facilities to make it sustainable for the future.
Ways to Donate
To make a donation please visit www.visitchurches.org.uk/appeal Alternatively, you can send a donation by cheque (made payable to The Churches Conservation Trust), or telephone 0800 206 1463.
Gifts of £500 or more will be acknowledged in St Peter’s and in our Annual Review if donors wish.
Your donation will enable us to:
- Undertake urgent repair work to ensure the historic fabric is preserved.
- Create a venue that meets the 21st century needs of Sudbury’s expanding community. Crucially this will involve ensuring that the venue is accessible for all.
- Create new jobs and craft skills apprenticeships opening up employment opportunities in the heritage sector for students and job seekers.
- Provide a wider programme to engage new audiences with heritage.
Thank you for your support for this appeal.
Your Key Contact:
For more information on the regeneration project at St Peter’s, please contact Allison Burke, Development Officer.
E: aburke@thecct.org.uk
T: 07799 424078
Project Facts:
Improvements
The regeneration project will deliver the following improvements:
- A contemporary internal new build to the major entrance at the West end providing an improved and more welcoming lobby;
- A mezzanine floor, meeting and events area;
- The provision of toilets;
- An upgrade to the kitchen and bar facilities;
- The opening of the south chapel;
- Improvements and access to gardens around the church;
- New roofs and other upgrades to the fabric of the building.
Alongside these physical changes to the building, St Peter’s will also expand its programme of heritage and cultural activities. These are designed to appeal to all ages of residents of Sudbury and neighbouring areas, as well as to visitors of this lively market town.
Funding & Project Costs
In March 2018 the National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded us funding of £275,500 to develop our proposals for St Peter’s. This development grant* has enabled us to recruit Alli Burke as Development Officer for the project, who will help us prepare for the next stage of our application process.
We anticipate the project will cost £2.5m. We now have until May 2020 to work up our designs and operational plans and to secure the all-important £400,000 match funding. A local Campaign Board has been established to help achieve this ambitious fundraising goal.
Plan for Closure
In order to undertake the repair and upgrading of St Peter’s, it will be necessary to close the site for a period of around 12 months (currently anticipated summer 2021 to summer 2022).
We are continuing to liaise with all our hirers and other users of the building to give as much notice of this inevitable disruption as possible and are in active discussions with other venues to help ensure our current activities can continue during St Peter’s closure.
Contribution to Sudbury
Together with the HLF-funded project at Gainsborough’s House and other local initiatives, the regeneration of St Peter’s will contribute to Babergh District Council’s ‘Vision for Prosperity’ for the area.
It will help ensure Sudbury develops as an economic and cultural hub for local people and as an attractive visitor destination.
Proposed Architectural Plan
You can view the current designs for the regeneration project here.
REGENERATION TIMELINE
SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS
The Friends of St Peter’s
The Friends of St. Peter’s (FoSP) is a registered charity which was founded after St. Peter’s closed for religious services in 1971. Our volunteers manage the upkeep of St. Peter’s, the hiring of the building to local cultural and community groups, and arrange for the building to be open to visitors.
The Churches Conservation Trust
The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT) is the national heritage charity saving historic churches. It protects and helps secure new uses for over 350 buildings, which attract almost 2 million visitors a year. The CCT is the operator of the third largest heritage estate in charitable ownership in the UK, and has an international award-winning reputation in heritage conservation and regeneration.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Thanks to National Lottery players, the Heritage Lottery Fund invests money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about – from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife.
