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History Highlights
1884
The Vicar (the Revd John Walter Dann) of Christ Church, Downend, Bristol leased substantial land and property in Staple Hill from Lady Emily Jane Cave for religious educational purposes and use by the church.
1892
The conditions of the lease were altered such that when funds became available, Christ Church would purchase the premises.
Lady Emily Jane Cave then herself funded the purchase of the property for the sum of £186-10s-0d (£186.50 in today's money!) and it became an asset for the use of Church but managed by a group of Trustees.
It is interesting to observe their occupations which ranged from farmer, farrier to leather merchant and gentleman!
The use of the property was also subject to certain conditions which the Trustees have upheld through the years although with variation in interpretation! These are:
1922
Several of the Trustees had died and others could not be found to take on the responsibility of running the place so the Vicar and Church Wardens became the sole Trustees, a position that remains today.
1940
The original deeds of the trust were taken into Bristol but, being war time, the building they were housed in became the victim of the German bombers and the original deeds were lost.
1950
The house had been used for church meetings but it was a bit of a trek to the house from the Church so a hall was built next door to the Church - known now as the North Street Hall and used extensively!
1956
A decision was made to let out the premises in Staple Hill and use the income to uphold the purposes of the Trust.
1957
The property was let out as a Gas Show Room
1993
The property was split, one part becoming a furniture/carpet shop that still exists and the adjoining part (now Haven House) was let to Insurance Brokers. The upper storey of the carpet shop provided a snooker room for retired men - but maintaining the principle of no alcohol!
2000
The Insurance Broker moved out and considerable maintenance work was done on the property and garden (2 lorry loads of rubble were moved out!).
2002
It had been expected that the maintenance work would attract new tenants. However, one by one, tenants were not forthcoming or the tenancy fell through and so - what was God saying to us??
The vision started to form that perhaps the Churches in the Community should work together to use the property for a different purpose - to reach the people of the Community itself and to provide an attractive, safe haven in the middle of the High St.
2003
After several meetings and much prayer, a Steering Group was formed to bring Haven House into being and to begin to fulfil the aims and objectives of the unfolding vision
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