St Thomas More Hall closing

[IrishDancer]

I have just heard that this Hall is being closed and was wondering what is going to happen to all the classes that were being taught there, ther was Set dancing, Line dancing, Irish dancing, Ballroom dancing, Music classes and Irish Language classes, has everyone found another Venue to hold the classes at? I think it's a real shame that such a place is being closed,and at such short notice. It's all about the money it seems. I don'tknow why the Priest hasn't announced it at Mass, all classes have been removed from parish letter. Ah well slight rant over!!

[Pugwash]

From what I have gathered - the Language Class is going to Dulwich Hamlet FC

The Set Dance people were looking if the East Dulwich Community Centre had vacancies.

I heard that Father Gerry had let the hall to a nursery.

[IrishDancer]

Yes it's true Fr Gerry has leased it out for 5years to a nursery. I just think it's all been done without any care for the pple who use the Hall on a regular basis or the Community. No mention of his decision to anyone it's all been heard second hand. I suppose 30k a year rental is a guarantee for him!

[Sue]

That's a shame - we looked at this hall as a possible venue for The Goose when the EDT kicked us out, but for various reasons we didn't go with it and ended up at DHFC.

I hope they will still have the Saturday jumble sales there!

[DJKillaQueen]

We were talking about the closure at a committee meeting last night as one of our members has been involved in the hall for the las 37 years, and her father before her. She said the change of use was brought by someone who has only been there three months and with no discussion with those currently using the hall or with those that work there runnning the bar. And all that is going too....the bar will be dismantled and all the furniture will go. Not very Christian behaviour really is it.

[Siduhe]

When the Irish Festival was cancelled this year, it was reported that most of Thomas More Hall's funding comes from the profits - if that's true, I can see why they might have looked at alternative sources of income - shame it's to the exclusion of all the activities that currently take place there.

[another annie]

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> That's a shame - we looked at this hall as a

> possible venue for The Goose when the EDT kicked

> us out, but for various reasons we didn't go with

> it and ended up at DHFC.

>

> I hope they will still have the Saturday jumble

> sales there!

Yes, my first thought was the Scouts jumble sales!

Also I see on the Workshop Sale website they say 'We have already booked the (Thomas More) hall for the 2011 Workshop Sale - put 3rd December in your diary now.'

Maybe the hall will still be available for these and other weekend events? Let's hope so.

[DJKillaQueen]

Hmmm on the Irish Festival point.....they supposedly matched the council funding to the tune of ?16k so why can't that money be used? The hall also has a bar too which raises revenue. And there are lot's of other ways to raise funding apart from a one off festival. I'd be curious to know if the nursery is a commercial enterprise and how much those leasing the hall will personally make from it. Must be a very lucrative deal if it is to replace everything that formerly took place at the hall (including evening activities which is when one might expect a nursery to be closed).....

[philiphenslowe]

The hall has been run and managed for many years by a group of dedicated and hardworking volunteers. Unfortunately the new priest has refused to even have a meeting with them to discuss its future use. It's meant to be a mixed-use church hall for the parish and community + I can't see how cancelling everything + letting it out to the highest bidder fulfils that remit.

[DJKillaQueen]

Agreed.

[Salsaboy]

The alleged god moves in mysterious ways.

[Sue]

philiphenslowe Wrote:

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Unfortunately the new priest has

> refused to even have a meeting with them to

> discuss its future use.

xxxxxx

That's a great start to his involvement with his church and the local community, isn't it.

Hasn't he given any reason?

[Bermondsey Boy]

The Irish Pensioners Project have moved into a new building in Grange Walk and it has a lovely hall and large garden - I'm sure they would be happy to help - why not give them a call?

[Amelie]

@PhilipHenslowe

Have you taken this up with the Bishop at St George's Cathedral? I think you should, and if you get no joy take it up with Archbishop Nichols at Westminster Cathedral. Ultimately I think your complaint lies with Ecclesia Dei at the Vatican.

[IrishDancer]

@Philliphenslowe I believe what you say, Father Gerry has no time for the Community, and he couldn't care less about the Hall and what our opinions are on the place,him clearly refusing to show up to a meeting shows this. Is there anything we can do to keep this Hall in the Community? Fr Gerry has been in the Parish for less than 6 months and he's already shut down the Hall.I was told from a very reliable source that when asked about the Hall he said "It's my job to say Mass not run a Hall" I can't wait to see how St Anthony's School is going to place next year if thats his attitude. Is there anything we can do to prevent this from happening?

[DJKillaQueen]

I can corroborate that comment too from another very reliable source. I am also informed that it is the diocese who ordered the change of use, and that greed for more income, rather than unprofitability from existing users is behind the change.

[Alan Medic]

Perhaps they need the money to continue whatever other services they provide due to loss of income elsewhere. Who are you actually accusing of greed DJ and how does it manifest itself in a way you can verify?

[Penguin68]

A Church placing income above the needs of parishioners and the local community, surely not..

[James Barber]

Many such halls are used by nurseries during the day. The nursery packs away and then the halls are used by evening and weekend groups.

Great combination to ensure building are used to their maximum.

We do need more nursery places locally and am sure that combining both is fully feasible.

Can someone please PM me the contact details for Father Gerry so I can meet him?

[DJKillaQueen]

James there is no dual use proposed here....everything has been stopped to turn the hall into a full time nursery.

AM I have a colleague who is heavily involved with the hall and has been for the last 30 years as was her father until his death some years ago. There is no loss of income from elsewhere. The hall and the parish make their revenue from hire of the hall and the bar. If someone hires the hall and wants the bar, the hirer pays the wagers of the bar staff...not the hall.

Also the Irish connection is as follows. It is a hall used by the Irish community to put on music nights for example. The Irish Community pay for the hire of bands/ acts etc and that has nothing to do with the revenue of the hall. My friend also tells me that the lack of Irish Festival this year hasn't impacted on that either as these music events are ticketted and the Irish Community take the door money to cover their costs hiring bands etc (and break even over the year).

So it sounds like a very similar set up to my tenants hall and we make a profit and we are not even open most of the time.

Her view echoes that of others in that the diocese have gone for a highest bidder, for the sole purpose of increased revenue, prompted not by unprofitability, but by a desire to maximise the revenue they can make on the building. And have done so without consultation of those currently using the hall. In fact she was given no notice and then had to argue that there were several upcoming bookings, such as an engagement party, that couldn't be cancelled at such short notice.

James, I asked my colleague the same thing...why couldn't the hall be a nursery during the day and still have its range of current activities in the evening. She didn't know the answer, but the hall intends to sell all of its furniture and fittings asap so if anything is going to stop it, it needs to happen fast. I think you will be referred to the diocese if you speak with father Jerry.

[Renata Hamvas]

I know of Church Halls being used by Nurseries in the daytime and for other activities in the evening/weekend. It is possible, however, that rather than just hiring out the hall to the nursery, it has been leased out (ie that the nursery will have sole use, this would explain the stripping out). If the later is the case, the alternative options I can think of are: ED community centre on Darryl Rd (children's Irish dancing there already there, however, on a Saturday morning), Peckham Rye Tenants and Resident Hall on Peckham Rye East side,(not far from the Cafe in the Rye), St Anthony's with St Silus Church Hall on Merttin's Rd, South Nunhead SE15 (where an ED nursery was temporarily), The new Brenchley Gardens TRA Hall (On Brenchley Gardens)and St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church on Evelina Rd, Nunhead (two halls).

Renata

[DJKillaQueen]

The problem is Renata that the exisiting activities are struggling to find alternate venues that are available during the week at such short notice. I think we are taking something on Monday evenings from 9pm, but sadly couldn't help the dancing group that asked us regarding Thursdays. And Weekends at Rye Hill TA are booked months in advance by hirers, as is the case with most local Halls. They literally have all been given just two weeks notice on this.

[EmilyE]

I think there are some restrictions on amplified music, but for groups needing rehousing it might be worth trying the Goose Green Centre.

There is currently a link on the right hand side of this page - then there's a rubric Goose Green Centre on the left hand side at the bottom, which has some details.

Good luck to everyone trying to find alternative venues.

[Pugwash]

The ED Community Centre were approached to hold the Irish Set Dancing Classes on a Monday evening. However one hall is used from 6.30 - 8.15 by Weight Watchers, the small hall used by another group until 8 pm and then every 3rd Monday from 8 - 10 by the EDCCA management committee. The dancing group were offered 8.30 onwards in the large hall but have not got back to the booking officer. There are a number of day time slots at the Community Centre - ring 8693 4411 for Barbara - Bookings Officer.

[Renata Hamvas]

If groups want to contact me,

I will try to see what I can find for their usual time/days in the area

Renata