An Exeter city centre church could be transformed into a circus complete with its own museum and a training centre for would-be performers.
The Methodist church in Sidwell Street will remain a place of worship if the plan goes ahead, juggling its traditional use with what supporters say are ‘exciting’ new proposals.
The applicant, a local company called One Clown’s Dream, has applied to Exeter City Council for planning permission to go ahead with the ambitious transformation.
It says the main hall, which is currently used for church services, could become an entertainment venue for circus performances, comedy, theatre and live music.
It would be only the third dedicated circus building in the UK, and the only one in the south of England.
The building’s school hall could become a circus school and training centre, as well as being available for hire to dance studios, performance groups, the Boys Brigade and sports groups.
Its Reed Memorial Hall would remain the meeting place for the Hebron Pentecostal Church as well as continuing to be available for hire by community groups within the area.
The Primary Room, which is currently used for storage and an additional meeting place, would be converted into a circus museum.
Eight comments have been posted online since the application was lodged, all of them supporting the change.
One supporter wrote: “This is an exciting opportunity to bring new life to this historic building while respecting its heritage and preserving its community value.
“The combination of entertainment, circus training, education, worship and community use will create a vibrant and welcoming space for people of all ages.”
Another said: “Finding sustainable new uses for historic buildings is one of the best ways to ensure they survive for future generations.”
Another supporter wrote: “It will revitalise this area of Sidwell Street and enable a listed building to be maintained and improved, as well as bringing more business to this part of the city.”
The church is not a listed building, and the application says any rigging, lighting and staging would be lightweight and ‘reversible’, Any fixings will be designed to minimise harm and be capable of removal without any permanent impact.
The application sums up: “The proposed development represents a sustainable, policy-compliant and heritage-sensitive scheme that secures the long-term future of the building while enhancing Exeter’s cultural offer.
“The balance of planning considerations weighs decisively in favour of approval.”
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