The Barn.
In the late-1800’s St Saviours was a flourishing centre for community providing a Sunday School for working children, a Band of Hope, Clothing clubs and a Penny Bank. The Hall was a space designed to engage with theses needs, being a centre of community for local families and serving those who were underprivileged. Throughout the years the hall has had a colourful and vibrant history, from serving as a theatre to a gymnasium, but over the past 30 years the hall has fallen into a state of disrepair. We’re on a journey to bring it back to life.
ARK
ARK builds creative spaces that connect people and enrich communities. By creating coworking spaces, coffee bars, artist and makers studios and events spaces, their mission remains the same - to foster and curate genuine community that leads to collaboration and relationship that means that businesses and people flourish in local neighbourhoods. More than offering just a service, ARK invites local community to give back to their area through ARK for Good, offering their time, skills and finances.
Over the last two years, we have explored how St Saviours may be able to partner with ARK to bring the hall back into meaningful and creative use.
What is being proposed?
A space to build community and showcase creativity in Finsbury Park by restoring and beautifying the Mission Hall.
A project to restore the dilapidated and unused Mission Hall and develop a thriving community and creative work space that serves the needs of the local people and the church.
A space for St Saviours to continue to grow and scale existing children’s clubs, family groups and community programmes, while establishing new initiatives and community strengthening networks and programmes.
A phased project and joint fundraising partnership between St Saviours and ARK, that raises funds to make the Hall structurally sound, reconnected to utilities and services, and fitted out as a community, events and work space.
A creative work space that fosters employment opportunities and entrepreneurial collaboration, and an events space to host community programmes, exhibitions and social gatherings.
A space that can be a home to Finsbury Park and Tollington’s diverse and multicultural community, across age groups with an ethos of inclusivity and partnership. A direct response to the impacts of Covid that undermined community and isolated individuals.
The story so far
External Restoration
Internal Restoration
After restoring and decorating the front two rooms of the Hall, ARK opened the doors on September 8th to the local community and started pouring the coffee and exhibiting art in the gallery. It has been remarkable to meet such a varied and diverse cross section of the neighbourhood, most of whom are not currently part of St Saviours Church. Toddlers, grandparents, artists, architects, bakers, restaurant owners - it has been such a privilege to meet the community, hear their stories, and share a vision for restoring the hall. Since opening in September we have met hundreds of residents, the overwhelming statement being, “I can’t believe this is hidden away back here”.
Join in the story
If you’re interested in supporting the hall by volunteering your skills, time or finances, please get in touch or donate to the Building Fund here.
Follow the journey at arkstudios.london