Community Centre (The Hellenic Centre) – from Dream to Reality

Over the years of our development as a Greek orthodox Community in Bristol many attempts were made to secure a community centre where our parishioners could meet up and celebrate important calendar events, baths, marriages and funeral wakes.

The opportunity arose in 1982 to acquire the old vicarage next to the church as it was to be sold by the then home owner. In June of the same year Archbishop Methodius Fougias, helped our community and purchased the building and donated it to the Community. The completion of the transfer of the building to the Trust of the Community was made by the Archbishop Gregory in August 1995.

In 1983 a committee was established that comprised of: Sotos Michaelides, Charalambos Stamboulia, Dimitri Dimitriou and Michael Sava. The committee applied in the architectural Archtection, to prepare plans for a Community Hall and also petitioned at the City Hall Bristol for a financial grant. The application was made every year until 1989. In June 1989 our Community acquired the land west of the church with the help of the Minister and MP of our area, Mr. William Waldegrave and the generous act of buying and donating the land to the church of family Pierakis and Augusta Mitsides. The plot was united with the rest of the church and was fenced with the help of the Philoptochos and the School and became a playground for our children.

In June 1993, at the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Archbishop, Mr. Gregory, along with Mr. W. Waldegrave inaugurated the space.

In September 1997 Mrs. Antonia Hilton (professor at the University of the West of England) and secretary of the school committee, presented ways that we could be given grants from the National Lottery Charities Board. The President of the Community, Athanasios Lazarides and Treasurer Mr. Vassos Soteriou, undertook the application and completion of this process.

In December of the same year the first positive response came from Ms. Mandy Stewart (Grant Officer) who visited us, at our church office and discussed our application.  WE had a constructive discussion.

On March 25, 1998 we were informed that The Greek Orthodox Community of Bristol was to be granted a grant of £ 193.000. to build our Community Hall. Immediately a special committee was appointed to promote and complete the project, which consisted of members of the existing committees (Church, School and Charity) as well as other community members who were able to help for this purpose. The committee members were: Athanasios Lazarides, Vassos Soteriou, Michael Michael, Andrew Nicholas, Hector Stamboulieh, Polyvios Polyviou, Peter Randall, Sotiris Georgiou Nicholas Christodoulos, Joanna Stamboulieh and Gioula Panagiotou. Father George attended all the sessions of the Committee. By unanimous decision of the committee, the work was given to the architecture firm Symonds. The company made three designs from which one was selected and subsequently it was sent to five known contracting firms for quotes. Finally, the work was given to the company Elliots, for the sum of £205,000.