Our Project...

The Church of St Mary the Virgin,  Park Street, Devizes, dates from the Norman times and is one of the most important buildings in the town, with the church tower a particular landmark. The building is listed Grade I, putting it amongst the top 2.5% of listed buildings in the country.

New uses within the multi-use concept

• Theatrical performances

• Dance performances for an audience

• Exhibitions and static displays, art, photography, sculpture

• Café and refreshment services in conjunction with events 

• Public Meetings
• Film Shows

• Extension of Church functions i.e. hosting receptions after Baptism, Wedding and Funerals

• Office functions for charities, possible a volunteer led Tourist Information Centre

 Project Support Groups are being set up to assist with the next steps of the design and the ensure the regeneration project is successful.

Each has a Convenor who will be the point of contact for ideas and questions.  If you would like more information or to contribute to a group then email

The Groups in no particulart order are:

• Heritage Arts and Events
• Technical Services and interior fittings
• Project Funding
• Business Plan and running the venue
• Promotion of St Mary's as a superb venue
• Governance
• Zero carbon and churchyard
• Archaeology investigation support
• Sweetland Organ refurbishment
• Spirituality and church use

Plan of the 2021 design

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Thanks to our Supporters

We wish to thank all the members of the public who continue to support us, and those wonderful event organisers who have choosen to use St. Mary for their shows and meetings. A special mention must go to The Invitation Theatre Company (TITCo) who had put on major shows for a number of years to sell out audiences, not least the recent "The Armed Man", 'Sister Act' and the classic 'War of the Worlds'.

TITCo have continued to use St Mary's for singing rehearsals and have posted a YouTube video. The aim is to take St Mary's from a closed building to a much visited asset to the town instead of merely an interesting background view.

Update July 2021 - Dates from the DAC

These are the best dates assuming a perfect scenario.  That is all the information required has been supplied and that there are no new objections from "consultees"

16/07/2021: DAC recommend the application, no further adaptation or addition is needed and it is ready for formal consultation.
23/07/2021: 42 day formal consultation period starts. (42 days is maximum length and can be shorter if all consults are received) Week delay is to write the minutes and action feedback.
03/09/2021: Formal consult finishes and all feedback is positive. NOA can now be issued.
03/09/2021: 30 day public notice period start
03/10/2021: Public notice period ends and, presuming there is nothing massively negative, the Registrar can issue Faculty
08/10/2021: Faculty issued works can begin when ready.

Project Group Update

Now that there is focus on detail and a start date is in view, the aim is to get the support groups organised on a more formal basis.

• The breakdown of tasks/roles of a group is not fixed but should evolve to meet the real world.
• Each group needs a “Convenor” to pull things together
• Each group could work in a different way
• You could be a contributor to more than one group.

• Heritage Arts and Events                         Paul Morgan
• Technical Services and interior fittings      Paul Morgan
• Project Funding                                     Mike Sanders
• Business Plan and Running the venue    Alan Truscott
• Promotion of St Mary’s                         Ida McConnell
• Governance                                         Tim Coomer
• Zero Carbon and Churchyard                Mike McClelland
• Archaeological investigation                 Roger Giraud-Saunders
• Sweetland Organ                                Vacant
• Spirituality and use as church              <<PCC>>

Update: January 2021 - Volunteers & the Interior

As this initiative to regenerate St Mary’s into a valuable community asset moves closer to becoming a reality, there are a number of ways that volunteers can become involved in deciding and implementing what is delivered. These are the practical issues than can benefit from the experience of others.

Key Topics

• Promotion of St Mary’s In order to fulfil the opportunities provided by a re-vitalised church, the need is to raise the profile of this unique event space. To make it part of a local centre of excellence that is Devizes town. The response to Covid-19 has shown that Devizes thinks and acts as a dynamic entity for the whole local area. Just think of the many other innovative projects in place and the huge number of groups promoting and supporting all aspects of life. These opportunities are highlighted by the plans for the Assize Courts; by the excellence of the performers brought to the town by the Devizes Arts Festival; the breadth of offerings by the Devizes Food and Devizes Beer Festivals, as well as all the activities initiated by the hugely popular Devizes Outdoor Celebratory Arts group

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