A DERELICT church in Bishop Auckland that has history of dilapidation, an illegal cannabis farm and severe vandalism could be given a new lease of life through a renovation project that’s looking to turn the facility into a community space.
St Peter’s Church has sat along Princes Street in a state of disrepair for several years, but that could all change in the future after local group The Bluebell Project has set its sights on repairing the tired and run-down place of worship.
Despite having the windows boarded up, the doors patched in places and rubbish littering the grounds, it wasn’t always this way.
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Over the years, St Peter’s has had a chequered past. From the ‘good old days’ of serving the town of Bishop Auckland and having the bragging rights of being the place where Stan Laurel was christened, to the police uncovering 1200 cannabis plants in the church building in May 2021 and youths vandalising the roof in July last year, the building has always been in the headlines.
In shocking events, the war memorial in the building was also stolen from St Peter’s – something that unsettled both the Bluebell Project and people who live on Princes Street.
Christine Percival, who is town ambassador for Bishop Auckland, remembers St Peter’s as a thriving community building that numerous people attended religiously.
However, she now hopes that the Bluebell project can restore it back to a “useful asset” for Bishop Auckland.
Providing community and outreach, education and training, as well as supported accommodation, The Bluebell Project will start to repair St Peter’s over the coming weeks – starting with a ‘community clean up’ on Wednesday, February 16 and Saturday, February 19 at 5pm. People are asked to wear suitable clothing, shoes and gloves. Refreshments will be provided.
The community interest group is appealing to members of the public to get involved and make it a place that Bishop Auckland can be proud of.
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Christine said: “For years, it was a building that gave a lot of people somewhere to go. It makes me sad that it’s got to the point where it’s covered in rubbish, it’s permanently closed and it’s starting to look shabby.
“It’s had its issues and so has Bishop Auckland but hopefully it can turn a corner and enter a new lease of life now.”
As part of the scheme, The Bluebell Project have a clear vision for St Peter’s that could include a residential property, a community centre, a garden space and a mental health facility.
Christine added: “Everyone in Bishop Auckland wants to see the town thriving, and that includes this renovation project. People should get involved if they can and make a real change in their community.
“It’s horrendous what’s happened in the church over the last two years – drugs, stealing, vandalism, hopefully that’s now a thing of the past.”
For further information about The Bluebell project, email Thebluebellprojectcic@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page here.
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