Hyde Parish Hall put up for sale to fund St Bartholomew's Church

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St Bartholomew’s Church has decided to sell Hyde Parish Hall to fund the refurbishment and upkeep of the medieval church.

Uncertainty now surrounds the future of the hall, founded in 1899, and whether it will stay as a community hub and be available to the groups such as Hyde WI.

The grade two listed building, with event rooms and a one-bedroom flat, is being marketed by Goadsby with “no development opportunities” according to the online listing. Developers would be keen to develop the Victorian property into flats.

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Rev Karen Kousseff, rector of St Bartholomew and St Lawrence with St Swithun-upon-Kingsgate, said: “It was a decision that we spent a long time coming to as it’s a very valued community space but we’ve got to be realistic about what we can and can’t do. Our duty as trustees is to make the best use of resources.

“The hall used to be used a lot for parties, gatherings and activities organised by the church but that is dwindling now, it’s fallen off a lot in the four years I’ve been here.

“The facility is used by a small number of external organisations who are aware of our decision and understand the reasons why. It would be great if it was kept as a community hall but we’re not selling it with any conditions.

“The sale would significantly help the future of the church, we’ve got a long shopping list of things that need to be done. People often come here interested in the history, with the church having remnants of Hyde Abbey, and we want to tell that story better.

“It’s a very positive time for the church with a growing number of events coming up that will draw the community in. We’re really encouraged that people are now seeing it as a community venue. Some of the small groups that used the hall could easily meet in the church and we’d be very happy for that to happen.

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“I understand that for lots of people who have very happy memories at the hall, this will feel very sad. I regret that but as a body of trustees we have to be practical and realistic.”

County councillor and local resident, Cllr Dominic Hiscock, said: “The hall has been part of the community for such a long time and it’s always been a central social space.

“It’s been used for everything from badminton to WI meetings. It would be missed by the community if that was to change and we’re short of other halls now in Winchester.”

In a statement released on Tuesday, June 6, the PCC said: “As the church does not receive any regular financial support from external sources, the PCC has concluded that its duty and key priority must be to focus on the refurbishment and upkeep of the church building alone, which holds a significant place in the heritage of the city and is in serious need of repair and upgrading.

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“The proceeds of the disposal of the hall, in conjunction with the current ‘Giving for Living’ Appeal, will enable the PCC to realise not just the required repairs to the church, but also some exciting new initiatives designed to breathe new life into this ancient building, and equip it as a vibrant place of:

• Living history: as the only complete remnant of Hyde Abbey and the base for the commemoration of King Alfred the Great
• Living faith: as the parish church for Hyde and Abbotts Barton
• Living community: as a comfortable and welcoming space for concerts, plays, talks and other social gatherings. 

“This will include creating a heritage area to tell the story of Hyde Abbey to visitors, improving the level access path for the benefit of wheelchair users and buggies, rearranging some of the pews to create a more flexible space for wider use, increasing the comfort by installing a more efficient and environmentally friendly boiler and heating system, renewing the internal decor, and investigating the possible existence of medieval wall paintings. 

“The PCC regrets not being able to retain the hall but looks forward to the potential benefit this will have for the life of the church and its use by the wider community. if you have any questions about this matter, please don’t hesitate to contact us.”