1. art and entertainment

All Saints
Community Arts & Youth Centre
ASSISTANT MANAGER
£15,153 - £16,217 per year
(Local Government Scp 14 - 17) 2008 PAY AWARD PENDING
Friars Walk, Lewes
All Saints is a vibrant and popular community arts and youth centre in the heart of Lewes, the
ancient county town of Sussex. The Centre is an early 19th century former church, given to
the Town in 1981 and now offering a range of facilities for performances and community use.
Managed directly since 2001 by Lewes Town Council, recent years have seen performances as
diverse as “The Sixth Wife” and “The Titfield Thunderbolt” alongside regular cinema;
classical and popular music concerts; art classes; yoga and tai-chi; dance classes; circus-skills
training; “mums’n’toddlers” sessions; a weekly toy library and numerous private functions.
There is a small bar/café area and the building has been subject to considerable refurbisment
and updating – a continuing programme.
We are looking for someone to assist our Manager in operating the Centre day-to-day and
assisting in its development.
This is a rare opportunity to work for the community of Lewes, and we offer friendly,
flexible, working conditions. We seek someone with an appropriate background and interest
in management of this type of venue, who may be at any stage of their career; who will enjoy
this key role in the development of the Centre, and who does not mind also ordering the
toilet-rolls! Working for 35 hours each week and often operating single-handed, working
times will be agreed according to programmes and will include weekends and evenings.
Further information and application forms from
Lewes Town Council, Town Hall, High Street, LEWES, East Sussex BN7 2QS
Tel: 01273 471469 Fax: 01273 480919 e-mail: info@lewes-tc.gov.uk
Closing date for applications: Monday 4th August Interviews: Tuesday 19th August
ADVERTISEMENT ABOVE PLACED:
Friday Ad
Sussex Express
GENERAL INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
for the post of
All Saints Centre ASSISTANT MANAGER – July 2008
Lewes is the ancient County Town of Sussex, and is the administrative centre for the County of
East Sussex and of Lewes District. It has a population of approximately 16,000 people, and is poised
to become the focus of the Eastern end of the proposed South Downs National Park. We are wellplaced for transport links with the rest of the region (London Victoria 1 hour by rail – Gatwick
Airport 30 mins.) and for France, via the Newhaven - Dieppe ferry services, just a few miles South.
Lewes is twinned with Blois, in France, and Waldshut-Tiengen in southern Germany.
Lewes Town Council has eighteen Councillors – six representing each of three electoral wards
(currently 14 Lib. Dem.; 3 Green party; 1 Independent), and thirteen staff. It is the successor to
Lewes Borough Council, which was incorporated in 1881. Currently, full Council meets roughly
every five weeks; Planning & Conservation Committee meets every three weeks; and other council
business may be delegated to working parties ad hoc. We administer recreation areas at The Pells and
Lewes Priory, and operate the Town Hall and the All Saints Community Arts & Youth Centre as
venues for activities ranging from dance-classes; tai-chi; and toy-libraries, to world-class sculpture
exhibitions; weddings; and musical and theatre events of all types. We also influence town planning
and tourism, and provide various amenities such as litter bins; bus-shelters and other street furniture.
This is a time of fast-paced change in local government, and our Council is facing a bright future in
which it may play a broader role in the affairs of the area.
Working for the Council: The Council is one of the largest 100 of the 10,000 parish/town
Councils in England and Wales, with a local council tax precept for 2008/09 of £734,700. We are
based at the Town Hall, in the High Street, which has been the home of Lewes’ local Council since
1893, and have small but comfortable offices with modern facilities. The small service yard at the
rear allows staff parking.
We are a fundamental part of the community of Lewes, and work in partnership with many local
organizations and the District and County Councils, who both have their own headquarters in Lewes.
We still fulfil a traditional ceremonial role in the life of the County, and staff have the opportunity to
join Councillors at a number of civic and social functions throughout the year.
Pay and other conditions of employment are based on the collective agreements made by the
National Joint Council for Local Government Services, so far as they are applicable, and the
Council’s own Standing Orders.
The ALL SAINTS CENTRE is in Friars Walk, approximately 1/4 mile from the Town Hall in the
heart of Lewes, and is a lovely early 19th century former church (Grade 2 listed) built on the site of a
14th Century original. It was given to the Council in 1981 for use as a community facility. From that
time until 2001 the Centre was leased to a Trust, who managed the building; offered a range of
facilities for performances and community use, and employed outreach workers in Youth and Arts
development.
Managed directly since 2001 by Lewes Town Council; reecent years have seen performances as
diverse as “The Sixth Wife” and “The Titfield Thunderbolt” alongside regular cinema; classical and
popular music concerts; art classes; tai-chi and yoga; dance classes; circus-skills workshops; a weekly
toy library; “mums’n’toddlers” sessions and numerous private functions. There is a small bar/café
area and the building has been subject to considerable refurbishment and updating in the past few
years – a continuing programme. There is considerable scope to develop directly-promoted events
and performances of all types, while the centre continues to be extremely popular as a venue for
third-party hire, and has a significant number and range of regular users which form a solid base on
which to plan, for example:
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Lewes’ Town Band (LGB Brass) including thriving youth section
Sussex Downs College performing arts faculty
Childrens’ music & movement
Toy library
Star Group life drawing class
Parent & Toddlers sessions
Dance & exercise classes
Lewes Film Club (World cinema)
Lewes Cinema (Popular cinema)
Blues concerts
Guitar and Folk-rock festivals
Starfish Youth Music concerts
Musicians of All Saints
After-school Circus-skills workshops (twice-weekly)
Youth theatre workshops
Charges are still relatively low compared with small theatres or other similar venues.
HOURLY RATES
Main Hall
Thurs - Sun
Mon - Weds
Thurs - Sun
Mon - Weds
Small Hall
Thurs - Sun
Mon - Weds
Thurs - Sun
Mon - Weds
Operation of third-party bar
Use of piano @ re-tuning cost
Use of Pipe-organ
1800hrs – 0000hrs
1800hrs – 0000hrs
0600hrs – 1800hrs
0600hrs – 1800hrs
1800hrs – 0000hrs
1800hrs – 0000hrs
0600hrs – 1800hrs
0600hrs – 1800hrs
currently
Commercial £
18.00
15.00
15.00
10.00
12.00
10.00
10.00
7.00
40.00
15.00
f.o.c.
Community £
13.50
11.25
11.25
10.00
9.00
7.50
7.50
7.00
40.00
15.00
f.o.c.
A Justices licence for sale of alcohol is held, although when a bar is offered this is usually operated by
a local publican. This is one area where significant potential income is being “lost”, that could
otherwise subsidize community events. Discussions are underway with the catering faculty of Sussex
Downs College who are interested to conduct a trial operation of a lunchtime café for 2/3 days per
week. This follows a similar venture that was popular at the Centre several years ago
An architects study on the building was carried out in 2001. The building was found to be in need of
some refurbishment and redevelopment to effectively meet its purpose, and this was estimated to
cost approximately £225,000 in total (2002 values) although possible to spread this over several
years. Priority works (in the areas of fire alarm system and emergency lighting etc.) have been
completed and over £50,000 has been expended in the years since, while less-urgent works are
programmed over the next few years. At time of writing (July 2008) works are imminent to refurbish
and improve the foyer/bar area and provide new WC’s including a dedicated suite for the less-able.
A small steering-group of 4 Councillors is charged with oversight of the Centre, and can co-opt
additional members from various interested organizations and individuals in the Town. The centre
manager and assistant manager are involved in this aspect and can attend and contribute to meetings.
FOR DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES, PLEASE REFER TO JOB DESCRIPTION ENCLOSED
All Saints Centre
Policy
LEWES
TOWN
COUNCIL
______________________________________________________________________________
This policy, relating to the operational management and programming of events at the All
Saints Centre, was adopted by Council at its meeting on 6th April 2006 (minute FC2005/107.2 refers)
This policy is intended to underpin operations at the Centre, and provide a framework within which
the manager can work. This has drawn on practical experience; discussions with hirers (current and
prospective), patrons, and arts organizations.
The hire policy allows acceptance of bookings up to one year (52 weeks) in advance, with a
constraint that two weekends (Fri/Sat/Sun) each season (Apr – June; July – Sept; Oct – Dec; Jan –
Mar) are reserved (dates to be at the manager’s discretion) for short-term availability of no more than
one month (30 days) in advance.
All bookings to be on a first-come-first-served basis, with any conflicting applications being decided
according to the policy framework. This facilitates many “festivals” and other projects that have
previously been unable to book, and allow the staging of events at short-notice in response to local
developments.
Existing bookings are honoured up to March 2007, and this policy is implemented with effect from
1st April 2007.
ASC Policy - April 2006
page- 1 -
All Saints Centre
Policy
LEWES
TOWN
COUNCIL
______________________________________________________________________________
All Saints Centre, Friar’s Walk, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 2LE
A brief history…
1148 AD
first mention of the church of All Saints
1250
First naming of the parish of All Saints
th
15 century Rebuild, including current bell tower
1806
Rebuild of nave by Amon Wilds
1883
Addition of Chancel and transepts by W. Basset Smith and E.J. Munt
1880/84
Stained glass by Henry Holiday
A change in usage…
In September 1980 the redundant church of All Saints was given to Lewes Town Council to be used as
a Community, Arts and Youth centre.
“The parish church of the former parish of All Saints, Lewes in the Diocese of
Chichester…included in a redundancy scheme… appropriating the property to use as a
community arts and youth centre and for purposes ancillary thereto…”
For twenty years the centre was run by the charity known as the All Saints Youth & Arts Trust, who
were granted a lease by the Town council. Their programming policy was stated as:
‘To promote, maintain, improve and advance the education of the public in the appreciation
and practice of the arts and to advance the education of children and young people by the
provision of facilities for creative, educational activity in the arts.”
In 2001, the Trust dissolved and handed the lease of the building back to Lewes Town Council. The
Council has been directly-managing the All Saints Centre since that time.
The Present
All Saints Centre is a hybrid venue functioning as both as a Village Hall and a Performing Arts Space.
As the All Saints is currently run as a venue to hire, its strength will lie in being a flexible, affordable,
multi-use space. The centre is well positioned to cater for:
• Live performance i.e. Music, Dance, Theatre
• Recorded performance i.e. Cinema
• Workshop/Rehearsal Space i.e. Music, Dance, Health, Fine & Dramatic Arts
• Community And Special Interest Groups which promote youth activity, community discussion and
lifelong learning.
At its best it supports its threefold aim through a commitment to Community Arts projects which are,
by definition, participatory activities in which the local community can engage for the purpose of both
self development, skill development and community building. The All Saints Centre acts as a creative
hub by offering a safe place to create, explore, perform, discuss and gather.
The Centre is currently a ‘safe-house’ to home grown and developing community and arts organisations
to meet, workshop, rehearse and perform. Some of the current organisations that call the All Saints
Centre ‘home’ include:
• Sussex Downs College Performing Arts
• Starfish Youth Music
student productions
• Musicians of All Saints
• Lewes Film Club
• Lewes Guitar Festival
• Lewes Cinema
• LGB Brass
• Lewes Toy Library
• Intrepid Youth Theatre
• The Star Group – life drawing
• Lewes Folk Rock Festival
ASC Policy - April 2006
page- 2 -
All Saints Centre
Policy
LEWES
TOWN
COUNCIL
______________________________________________________________________________
The Future - Guiding Principles
In order to steer the programming of the All Saints Centre it is necessary to adopt some guiding
principles by which the venue will be made available for use. Generally these are:
• Encouraging education in both the production of and participation in arts, community and youth
activities.
• Providing a safe environment in which the whole community can be engaged and stimulated as
participant, performer or audience.
• Going beyond being simply a space to hire but a hub of creative energy and activity, reflecting the
wide spectrum of the arts, and community activity and catering to all ages.
Supporting All Saints as a community, arts and youth venue, our underlying policy will be:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
To provide accessible and affordable hired space for community groups and projects
To encourage a broad range of activities to excite, engage, stimulate and challenge
Place education and the opportunity for growth at the centre of all of our activities.
Help nurture the growth of new ideas and young talent
Encourage the use of the venue for a wide range of participatory activities. Prioritise events which
involve participation or live human activity on site in preparation, production and performance
To engage in creative collaboration with the local arts scene: act as a ‘safe-house’ for local
organisations to workshop, perform, or display their work and facilitate local arts festivals and
community festivals to use the centre.
Aim to be a supporting venue in every Lewes based arts festival. Develop and maintain
relationships with the other event promoters in the Town.
Develop the building to a professional standard of performance space. Provide a safe and
professional standard of equipment and facilities.
To ensure all license/health and safety conditions are met and monitored.
Actively market the venue both as a space to hire and a venue to watch for ‘what’s on’
Publish bi-monthly leaflet, website, and seek more co-ordinated opportunities for publicity.
Community Specific
• To promote and encourage the use of the centre by a range of community groups
• To work together with local authorities, voluntary groups and associations and members of the
local community in order to ensure maximum use of the centre.
• Encourage activities that promote equal opportunities, health, race relations, law and order,
environmental and other worthwhile community issues.
• To provide an environment for the discussion of community issues.
Arts Specific
• To encourage music, drama, dance, literary and all other arts events and activities that aim to
improve the quality of life for the community as a whole.
• To provide a safe-house for groups, performers, musicians, and artists in which to perform,
workshop and display their work.
• To encourage new projects and creative risk taking, to promote performances that can be
experienced by the widest possible audience.
Youth Specific
• Promote and encourage educational activities in the varied domain of the arts and community life.
• To work together with local groups and education facilities to provide workshop and performance
space for young people to witness and participate in the production, practice and/or performance
of arts and community projects
ASC Policy - April 2006
page- 3 -
All Saints Centre: Profile of Activity
Promoting the All Saints Centre’s mandate as a Community, Arts and Youth venue requires a commitment to achieving a balance among the varied
spectrum of community, arts and youth activity
While this table is not exhaustive, it identifies the range of present and potential activity and allows prioritization in cases of policy conflict.
Priority (for bookings etc.) will always be accorded to voluntary/community-sector/amateur groups before commercial/professional enterprises
Types of Activity
COMMUNITY
Physical Activities
i.e. Play, Exercise, Health
Fundraising
i.e. Benefit, Table Top Sale
Education
Senior/Adult
Public Meetings
Discussion Groups
Other
Residents groups, Voluntary
organisations, Community
enterprise
Private Hire
Conferences, general meetings,
parties
ARTS
Promoting opportunities for
people to develop skills, and to
explore and communicate ideas
through active participation in the
arts.
Types of activity may include:
Art & Crafts,
Carnival, Circus,
Music, Dance, Theatre/Drama,
Photography, Film, Video,
Animation,
Storytelling, Reminiscence,
Literature/Creative Writing.
Live performance
i.e. Music, Theatre, Dance,
Comedy, Spoken Word
Recorded Performance
i.e. Film, Television Broadcast
Festivals, Cabarets, Recitals,
Lectures
ASC Policy - April 2006
YOUTH
Toddler
Toy Library
Play Groups
Music, Drama and Dance
Youth or Young Adult
Community Focus
i.e. Youth Council, Discussion
Groups, Education
Community Arts
Youth Music
Youth Theatre
Youth Dance
Youth Performance
Collaboration with local schools
and college
i.e. student performance, youth
focused content
PARTICIPATION
Priority will be accorded as:
Active Participation
Engagement in the production
process
i.e. organisation and project
management, workshops,
rehearsals, performance,
discussion
Passive Participation
Audience Member
.i.e witness to performance
Participant Groups:
Toddler
Youth
Young Adult
Family
Adult
Senior Citizen
Disabled/Minority Groups
Locally-based
Based out-of-area
page- 4 -
JOB DESCRIPTION
POST
All Saints Centre - ASSISTANT MANAGER
POST NO.
40
DEPT.
All Saints Centre
SUPERVISOR
All Saints Centre Manager
LEWES
TOWN
COUNCIL
JOB PURPOSE
To assist the Manager and deputize as required in all day-to-day operations at the All Saints Centre,
supervising the building during operating hours on a rota basis, and assisting in development of the Centre.
To act as liaison between users of the Centre and the Council, as appropriate. To assist in the expansion of
the centre’s use in accordance with established policies and programmes. To be responsible for building
maintenance and cleanliness; equipment, stores and consumables.
MAIN DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES (order not indicative of priority)
Operations
To deputize for and assist the manager to facilitate smooth running of events and performances at the Centre.
To assist in the management of day-to-day operations; ensuring appropriate standards of cleanliness and tidiness, and
proper operation of all safety-related systems/equipment and procedures.
To allocate duties and supervise the work of the Caretaker, as directed.
To ensure full compliance with conditions of all formal licenses during absence of the Manager
To maintain appropriate stocks and availability of consumable materials.
To ensure security of the premises, in the absence of the Manager.
To maintain appropriate records and documentation, as directed.
To deter antisocial use, insofar as practical, and report problems promptly.
To assist with the maintenance of a functional booking system.
Maintenance of proper Health and Safety protocols within the centre, in the absence of the Manager
Premises
To regularly inspect land; buildings; paths; fences; boundary walls; gates; signage; site equipment; fixtures & fittings etc.
and immediately rectify minor defects if possible, reporting damage etc. promptly.
To keep records of inspections and actions, as directed, and ensure that these are accurate, legible and complete.
To clear excessive litter/remove hazardous items or report problem (eg broken glass or other hazard)
When works are not within the capability/remit of the post-holder, to monitor performance/satisfactory completion
of works where carried-out by third parties
To promptly advise of obvious deterioration, or imminent hazard, and assist in the preparation of solutions
Other functions
To act as first point of contact for hirers/promoters and other users/patrons of the Centre in the Manager’s absence.
To offer general support and assistance to the public, insofar as practical, as a representative of the Council.
To carry out any other duties within the capability of the post-holder which may, from time to time, be reasonably
directed/requested.
At all times to behave courteously and with respect with for others, as expected of a representative of the Council.
This document describes in general terms the duties and responsibilities of the post at the time it was
drafted. This is not to be taken as exhaustive nor exclusive, and duties may be varied at any time, in
consultation with the postholder, to meet the needs of the service. Such variations are a common occurrence
and cannot, of themselves, justify reconsideration of the grading of the post.
DRAFTED: May 2008
When you have completed this
application form, please return it to:
Town Hall, High Street
Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2QS
01273 471469
Fax: 01273 480919
Application No:
LEWES TOWN COUNCIL
Source:
(for office use only)
APPLICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT
Please complete this form in dark ink/type (preferably black or blue) to assist copying
Post applied for:
Post Number:
PERSONAL INFORMATION:
Surname:
First Name(s)
Preferred Title: Mr / Mrs / Miss / Ms / Other ………
Daytime telephone no.
Address:
Evening telephone no.
Mobile telephone no.
E-mail
Planned holiday dates
Do you hold a current driving licence?
YES / NO
Do you own a vehicle?
YES / NO
Please give details of any endorsements:
PRESENT EMPLOYMENT (or, if unemployed; last employment):
Name and Address of current/last employer
Post Title:
Salary:
Date appointed to present post:
Notice period required:
Reason for leaving (and date if relevant):
Telephone Number:
REFEREES:
Please give details of two referees; The second of which must be your current/last employer. Tick the box if you do not
wish your current employer to be approached for a reference prior to a job being offered to you:
1) Name
2) Name
Position
Position
Address
Address
Telephone No:
Telephone No:
(present/last employer)
WORK HISTORY: Please list your past employers starting with your present or most recent job and working backwards:
From
To
Employer
Position/job-title
Grade/salary and
reason for leaving
Please describe experience relevant to this application. Include expertise both in and outside paid employment, e.g.
your current or any other job, voluntary work, leisure interests, domestic work, study, etc. Please continue on
Page 3 (and attach separate A4 sheets if necessary). Information provided in this part of your application should
clearly demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the post.
Continues on page 3
Page 2
Continued from Page 2
Page 3
TRAINING AND EDUCATION:
From
To
FT/
PT
School, College, University, etc
Examinations passed /grades obtained
Date
Please detail any other qualifications which are relevant to this job application. Please include any membership of
professional or technical bodies. (Please indicate whether by examination or election)
RESPONSE MONITORING:
How did you learn of this vacancy ?
(eg name of publication if applicable)
HEALTH:
How would you describe your health?
How many days off work through sickness have you in the:
(a) last 12 months?
(b) in the previous 12 months?
DECLARATION:
I declare that the information given is true and understand that canvassing of councillors or staff directly
or indirectly will invalidate this application.
NOTE: You must declare any relationship to councillors or staff of the Council
Signature:
Date:
/
/
DATA PROTECTION:
The information you have supplied in this application may be processed on computer or form the basis of manual records. Lewes Town
Council requires the data for operational, managerial and associated purposes relevant to the maintenance of the personnel system for all
its employees. Where your application has been unsuccessful your details will be held on file for six months and will then be destroyed.
Page 4
APPLICATION NUMBER
RECRUITMENT MONITORING
The information given in this section will be separated from the application form prior
to shortlisting. It is NOT part of the selection process.
(for office use only)
Lewes Town Council is committed to equal opportunities and are looking for staff to help us deliver services to the
whole community of Lewes. All shortlisted candidates will be expected to display an understanding of equal
opportunities.
The Council strives to ensure that no job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race,
nationality, ethnic or national origins, disability, sex or marital status, or is disadvantaged by conditions or
requirements that are not justifiable. We endeavour to recruit, promote, train and treat individuals on the basis of
their merits and abilities alone. Please note that it is not the normal practice of the Council to employ people under
the age of 16 or over the age of 65.
One means of monitoring recruitment practice is by the analysis of information obtained from applicants for
employment. Please complete the questions below. The information provided is confidential and will help to
develop future employment practice.
Name:
Post applied for:
Gender:
Male
Date of Birth:
Female:
/
/
Would you regard yourself as having a disability
Yes
No
If Yes, please provide details, including any measures which might help you to perform the duties of the post:
Marital Status:
Married
Single
Separated/Divorced
Widowed
ETHNIC ORIGIN:
English
White Irish
White Other
Mixed White and Black Caribbean
Mixed White and Black African
Mixed White and Asian
Any other mixed background
Please specify:
Asian or Asian British – Indian
Asian or Asian British – Pakistani
Asian or Asian British – Bangladeshi
Any other Asian background
Please specify:
Black or Black British – Caribbean
Black or Black British – African
Any other black background
Please specify:
Chinese
Other
Please specify:
NATIONALITY
What is your nationality?
NOTE:
Under the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, you must provide proof of your right to work in the UK, if offered the post.
Page 5
CRIMINAL CONVICTION:
Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 certain convictions become “spent” after a specified period of time,
and those with spent convictions are not required to disclose the conviction on application forms if asked to do so.
A sentence of longer than 2 ½ years in prison never becomes spent.
Q: Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence in the past which has not
become “spent” under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 ?
YES/NO
Q: Are you subject to pending criminal prosecution or proceedings ?
YES/NO
Please give the nature of any “unspent” convictions or pending criminal proceedings (not including minor traffic
offences). If you are in doubt about your answer to the above question(s), ensure that you obtain clarification of
your circumstances before making an application.
The Council reserves the right to make a criminal record check in respect of applicants for appointment, or
registration involving substantial access to children
Criminal Convictions and time periods before becoming “spent”:
(further rules apply for offences in H.M. Forces, please ask for details)
Sentence
•
Becomes “spent” after
10 years
•
Sentence of imprisonment or youth custody exceeding six months, but not
exceeding two and a half years
Sentence of imprisonment or youth custody not exceeding six months
•
Sentence of Borstal training
7 years
•
Fine or other sentence under this Act, not otherwise covered in this table
5 years
•
•
Absolute discharge
Probation Order; conditional discharge or bind-over; “fit person” Order;
Supervision Order or Care order under the Children and Young Persons
Acts (and equivalent Scottish legislation)
A detention by direction of the Home Secretary
•
7 years
6 months
1 year or until expiry of
Order (whichever is the
longer)
for a period exceeding six months but not exceeding two and a half years
5 years
for a period not exceeding six months
3 years
for a detention-centre Order
for a remand-home; approved school; or attendance centre Order
3 years
Period of the Order plus a
further year following expiry
.
for a Hospital Order under the Mental Health Acts
Period of the Order plus a
further two years following
expiry, with a minimum of 5
years from the date of the
Order
These periods may be reduced by half for a person who was under the age of eighteen at the time the sentence was
passed.
Should you require further advice regarding the effect of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 on your
application, please contact us.
Page 6
What’s On July 2008
All Saints Centre Friars Walk, Lewes
Events
Love Music Hate Racism & LTC present
Talk Taxis, Artcha, G.Range, Surrogate Plums, Harrey & Exit.
Tues July 1, 8pm, FREE as part of Lewes
Trade Council’s 2008 Festival. Thanks to Starfish for support & opening bands. www.lovemusichateracism.com
www.starfishlewes.co.uk
Musicians of All Saints’ South American Season
With music by Alberto Ginastera, Peter Copley & Beethoven.
Sat July 5, 7.45pm. Pre-concert talk with Peter Copley 7.10pm. Tickets £8/£6conc/Kids free from Academy Music, Lansdown Pl or
01273 473229. Full details see www.mas-lewes.co.uk
The Richard Chapman Group
With Rhodri Davies, harp, Paul Morgan, bass, Mark Fletcher, drums.
This unique instrumental, acoustic lineup of magical soundscapes has a powerful English identity with a mystical side and
reflects landscapes and nature. All the compositions have been written by guitarist Richard Chapman who lives in Isfield.
“Exciting, esoteric, intriguing” Time Out
Tues July 8, 8pm, Tickets £10/£8 on the door. www.richardchapman.co.uk
Fat 45 & Ukes of Hazzard
Blistering eleven piece big band bringing back the dance music of the 1940’& 50’s with their slick quiffs, sharp suits,
swingin hips & high heels. With support from the comedy bluegrass of the Ukes of Hazzard, “Big fun with small
instruments!"
Fri July 11, Doors 7pm. Tickets £10/£8conc from Laportes, Friars Walk. www.fat45.com www.myspace.com/theukesofhazzard
The Father Monologues
Part 3: Billy, The Musical!
Mixed-up brickie breaks walls to find black is white, slave is master, woman is man, shrink is patient, past is present and
father. . . is son.
Part of a trilogy of plays written and performed by Jonathan Brown, ‘Best Male Performer Nominee Brighton Fringe 2007.’
July 15th, 8pm. Tickets £8/£6 from Laportes, Lansdown Pl. 01273 478817 www.thefathermonologues.com
Film
Lewes Cinema.
Caramel July 4 & 6, 8pm. Persepolis July 12, 8pm, Joy Division July 13, 7.45pm, Sex & The City July
18 & 19, 8.30pm, July 20 5.15pm, The Edge of Love July 18 & 19, 6.15pm, July 20, 8pm, Mongol July 27, 8pm.
Tickets £5 on the door. For the up to date programme details ring 01903 523833 or join their mailing list for regular updates via
www.lewescinema.co.uk
Lewes Film Club Returns with a new season in September.
Fridays 8pm.
01273 471588. www.lewes-filmclub.org
Weekly Activities
until July 25th. Recommencing September 9th.
Please ring ahead for full details & to confirm availability.
Circus Skills Workshops
Firecracker Circus is offering children’s mixed classes. Aerial, juggling, unicycling, stilt walking, tightrope &
more! Mon & Thurs 4-6pm. Info 07904300527 Coming soon adult aerial classes (trapeze, rope and silks) Info 07779220729.
Parent & Toddler Activities
*Term time only.
Bumps & Babies Drop in for new and expectant parents. Volunteers needed! 0 thru to first steps.
£1.50. National Childbirth Trust 08702205860.
Tuesdays 1-3pm
What’s On July 2008
All Saints Centre Friars Walk, Lewes
Music & Movement* Singing, percussion & dance for 0-5’s & parent/carer.
Wednesday 10 & 10.40am. Drop in £2.50/£2 for siblings. Term time only. Pam 01273476686
Toy Library Drop in Wednesday 10-12noon. Loans 50p-£1 per week. 01273 477631.
Parent & Toddlers Group* Informal drop-in for play & conversation.
Friday 9.30-11.30am. .£2/family. Toys & refreshments. Term time only 01273 471175
Music, Art &Theatre
Lewes, Glynde & Beddingham Brass Band
New members welcome! Are you 8-11? Why not learn to play a
brass instrument? LGB Brass offers free tuition & instrument loan. Youth Rehearsal Mon 6.30-7.30pm & Thurs 7-8pm. Full Band
Rehearsal Thurs 8-10pm. Ring Simon on 07768438433 or visit www.lgbbrass.co.uk
Star Group
Life Drawing Class Friday 10am-1pm. Details 01825 872806
Intrepid Theatre Centre
Drama, Dance & Song. Sat am First Stage/4-7yrs & Sun Centre Stage/8-16yrs. 01273
476226 www.intrepidinspires.co.uk
Heath, Fitness & Dance
Tai Chi Mondays.
6pm Beginners 7pm Improvers. £65/10weeks. Paul 01273 470955
The Nia Technique Expressive body, mind & movement.
Tues 10-11am. £30/5wks. Lauren 01273 470437.
Turning Point School of Dance
A variety of children’s classes including jazz, ballet & tap. Wednesdays. Ring Miss
Canneaux on 01825 840 568 for details & times.
Helena’s Flamenco School For all abilities! Saturday am. Info 07963959262
Vajrasati Yoga
Saturday 11.30-1pm. £7 or £24/4 sessions. Suzie 01273 516 616
The Centre will be closed for improvement works from 28th July – re-opening 1st September
For ‘what’s on’ information sent direct to your inbox email asc.lewes@btconnect.com to register on our mailing list.
All events are the responsibility of the promoter.
The All Saints Centre/Lewes Town Council accept no responsibility for changes to the programme.
The All Saints Centre is available to hire for community, arts and youth activities.
Contact us for more information.
All Saints Centre
Friars Walk, Lewes BN7 2LE
Tel 01273 486391/471469
e-mail asc.lewes@btconnect.com
Centre Manager – Lesley Thurston-Brown
ALL SAINTS
Friar’s Walk, Lewes
John Houghton© All Saints Arts & Youth Centre 1991
All Saints Arts and Youth Centre (Lewes)
Reproduced from the original drawing ©Moira Hoddell ARCS, first published in THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, December 1983
ALL SAINTS IN LEWES
THE EARLIEST CHURCH
Folk Legends die hard, and the most persistent is that three early, now ‘lost’ parishes of Lewes (St Peter the
Less, Holy Trinity and Holy Sepulchre) were merged and renamed All Saints.
This is wrong, for all four can be shown to have had separate contemporary existences. The church of All
Saints is named in a document of 1148 AD 1. So its history reaches back in Lewes for 850 years. The parish
of All Saints is named in c.1250. 2
Undoubtedly in the fourteenth century mergers did take place, but All Saints had by then been in existence
for at least two hundred years. In most early documents it is known as All Hallows, and it has had a
chequered career. Rebuilt in the 15th century after the merger, all except the tower was demolished and rebuilt in 1805-7, and then the whole substantially extended in 1883 in yet another style. Finally, there has been
the conversion to its modern use as a Community Arts and Youth Centre.
THE 14TH/15TH CENTURY BUILDING.
In 13233 a diocesan court was held at All Saints, yet by 1337 it was, with other Lewes churches, ‘diminished,
impoverished and unserved’4. This was in a report by the Patron, the Bishop of Chichester, but was aimed mainly
at the Priory of St Pancras, patron of three other churches. The Priory tended to take all the revenue it could
from them and put nothing back. The proposals in the report, as such, were not carried through, but over
the next hundred years, All Saints absorbed Holy Trinity and Holy Sepulchre, and also the parish of St
Nicholas. For many years the Bishop regarded All Saints as his diocesan church in Lewes, a proud distinction
in a town that has also been relatively overchurched. The parochial re-arrangement that took place during the
14th century meant that the parishes of the smaller churches were absorbed to make up the enlarged parish.
The bishop’s patronage passed into lay hands during the 17th to 19th centuries, but was back in his hands after
that, and remains so now.
THE FIRST REBUILDING
After the merger, a new and better church was built, and of this there are several illustrations.
The present tower is seen as it was built, and the rest of the building is well proportioned to the tower. The
window at the top of the tower looking east is still there but now looks into the roof space of the 1805-1807
nave, showing that it is the nave that is out of proportion to the tower, not the other way round.
On the south side of the old nave was a two storied porch, with a door facing south. It has been said that the
upper room of the porch was used as a school, but while this is likely there is no evidence. The path would
then have led directly from the street, up the bank to the porch door.
The present path from the end of Church Twitten could only have been arranged in or after 1735 when the
Pelham family gave the land of an old house for its grounds to be thrown into the churchyard 5. The old
Chancel flanked on its north side by a chapel, had a fine contemporary ‘decorated’ east window and a Priest’s
door in the south wall.
This gave the Priest access to the chancel without having to enter the nave by the porch. The whole length
of the old building, tower nave and chancel was less that the present main hall, and no wider than the space
between the wrought iron pillars supporting the balconies
THE ORIGINAL BELLS
Until recently the tower contained three bells, one made between 1390 and 1418 by Stephen Norton or an
un-named successor to his business is one of the earliest bells in Sussex 6. It is earlier than the tower and may
have belonged to the original church, perhaps its only one. The other two must have been obtained
progressively after the tower was built. After all Saints was redundant, the three bells were given to Poynings
Church, near Brighton.
19th CENTURY RE-BUILDING
At the turn of the 18th/19th centuries, Lewes experienced rapid commercial growth, particularly in All Saints
parish, sometimes called the ‘parish of the shopocracy’. The Church was by then said to be in ‘so infirm a state as no
longer to admit of divine service being performed in it with safety’.7
By Act of Parliament of 1805 the parish was authorised to pull down the old building, although financial
prudence decided (happily) to retain the tower. The times were such that the Anglican church then placed
great emphasis on preaching and teaching, and less on ritual. As a result the simple, rather severe (dare one
say dull?) brick-built nave had only a small proto-chancel, where the stage now is. This was all that was built
during 1805-1807, and was consecrated at the end of 1807. It was to the design of Amon Wilds (the elder), a
Lewes builder whose work was later dignified by calling him an Architect. Wilds went on, with this partner
C.A. Busby to do much of the development of Kemp Town, Brighton. All Saints is his earliest known
building still standing, but it is difficult not to agree with “Buildings of England, Sussex” which says it is ‘long
but not specially interesting 8. The arrangement of three galleries supported on cast-iron columns is a style
reflected in several later buildings. The Organ and the Choir in that design were placed in the west gallery.
LATER VICTORIAN ADDITIONS
A revival of interest in Anglican ritual, arising from the Tractarian
(or ecclesiological) movement of the mid 19th century led to dissatisfaction with the style and the limiting
layout of the 1805-7 church. Plans were made to pull down the early 19th Century work, and build a new,
enlarged Gothic Revival design. Rightly or wrongly the parishioners would not make (or perhaps pay for)
such drastic change. Thrift came to the fore, and only the sanctuary of Amon Wilds’ design was demolished
to accommodate the crossing and new chancel. Drawings of the entire proposal exist and one artist’s
impression can be seen in the building.
The 1881 design, by Bassett Smith and E J Munt, provided for lateral extensions on either side of the
Georgian sanctuary for a north Organ Chamber, two vestries on the south side, and a long chancel rising by
steps to the high east Altar. Behind the site of the altar (now behind the mirrors in the small hall) a mosaic
reredos by Salviati of Milan is still present. The Organ, by William Hill & Son, Lewes organ builders, has been
progressively evolved from the simple early 19th century baroque type, through added voices. It has moved
from the chancel north chamber by volunteer workers under professional guidance, and re-established at the
crossing behind the stage in 1985.
INTERIOR
Some guide books will tell you that in the tower are stone figures of a school boy and girl,, from the Old
National Central Schools. They have since been moved to Anne of Cleves House Museum in Southover.
The two little figures, high up, should not be confused with them, but are kneelers from a now dispersed
memorial to one Robert Hussard (d.1624), and are of terra cotta. Several interesting mural monuments have
been kept, the most interesting being fragments (in alabaster) of that to John and Jane Stansfield. He was
grand-father to John Evelyn, the Diarist. The interior of the tower was converted into a reception area (after
the redundancy) as a memorial to the late W. Emil Godfrey, son of the late Walter Godfrey. (See also under
‘memorials’). A fine oak screen of the Victorian chancel, separating the nave from the chancel was moved to
St George the Martyr in Kemp Town, Brighton, another church by Wilds with Busby. A large oil painting of
St John the Baptist in prison, presented to the church in about 1790 by the Pelham family, was sold by the
Diocesan authority at auction. The majority of the pews, an undistinguished varnished pine, were sold by the
Centre to go towards the heavy costs of restoration. Much of the painted glass is by Henry Holiday, perhaps
not the best examples of his work.
MEMORIALS
During the building of the Chancel, many earlier interments had to be built over, but the north-east extension
of the churchyard, obtained in 1851, allowed memorials to be erected to those so affected, who had pride of
place.
There are some fine memorials in the burial ground, and in observing their present condition it should be
remembered that the upkeep of memorials is the responsibility of those who placed them there. Those
commemorated are local personalities, many important in the history of the town. Outside the south-west
corner of the nave, is a memorial to John Baxter (1781-1858) the Lewes printer and publisher who invented
the composition inking roller. He had three sons, one of whom was Wynne Edwin Baxter, the last High
Constable and the first Mayor of Lewes. His memorial is against the east wall of the churchyard. (Another
son, who left Lewes and established his reputation in London, was George Baxter, inventor of the ‘Baxter
print’, a system of colour printing). In the north-east corner is a mausoleum, extending into the grounds of
Lewes House (the building to the north), built for John Scobell, Rector of All Saints for 46 years (d.1867).
He was violently opposed to the ecclesiological movement (personified in Sussex by the Rev.J.Mason Neale),
and to him the extensions of 1883 would have been objectionable. Also in this mausoleum are interments of
members of the family of E.Perry Warren, an American aesthete and art connoisseur, and Walter H Godfrey,
Architect and sometime director of the National Building Record. Both were later owners of Lewes House.
CONCLUSION
It is easy to point to a decline in Christian worship as the reason for failing support for a church. This may
partly have been true for All Saints, but there were other processes for change at work. Greater personal
mobility has meant outward dispersion of the once resident population of the parish from which All Saints
drew its congregation
Now if they attend church at all, they do so near where they live, usually away from the town. There came a
time when the Diocese, in view of the substantial cost of administering a shrinking parish in a town
admittedly already over-churched, was forced to rationalise. It was a process little different from the 14th
Century rationalisation, and led to the churchyard and building being declared redundant.
The property now remains in perpetuity in town hands. All Saints as a Church, a congregation of
worshippers, still exists. The Parish was merged into a team ministry based on St. Anne’s church at the west
end of the town, and All Saints Centre began its career as a community arts and youth centre.
Author: John Houghton© All Saints Arts & Youth Centre 1991
Sources:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
Sussex Record Society (SRS) 40 No.60
SRS40 p.23
SRS 40 p.90
Public Record Office ancient Deeds A14181
East Sussex Record Office SAS a 458
G P Elphick, “Sussex Bells and Belfries” p.338
T W Horsfield, History of Lewes Vol.1 p.283
Penguin Books p.64