Angie Calvert Jones writes:
The sale of the Central URC in Bath certainly offers new opportunities at least for the church space. I understand that it is similar in size to that of the first purpose-built concert hall in England, the Holywell Music Room in Oxford, and could for example, make an ideal intimate music venue combined with a medium-sized lecture room.
Just one of a potential number of ideas to ensure the church space remains in public use. It would be good to know what other ideas your readers may have.
The presence of a beautiful organ, still playable and built by well-known local builder William Sweetland, whose organ factory was within half a mile of Argyle Street, would be an asset for such entertainments. This would relieve the new owners of the problem of finding a home for the fine instrument whilst at the same time preserving one of the best examples of the work of this Bath citizen.
This instrument is the largest of the few Sweetland instruments remaining in the City and worthy of preservation in its own right. Having been built in 1888 for the Argyle chapel it would be a great shame if it were to be lost from the building when, with little effort, it could continue to perform a useful function for many more years.
