Residents demand ‘unused’ place of worship becomes youth centre

Residents in south Bristol are demanding an “unused” place of worship becomes a youth centre.

The campaigners from Knowle West say the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) Bristol branch should instead be used to get kids “off the street”.

The council-owned building on Newquay Road was formerly the Eagle House Youth Centre, before being taken over by the Nigerian Pentecostal church in 2016.

The campaign for it to become a youth centre again is being led by community activist Carol Casey, with support from Margaret Rawlins and Anita Pearce, the respective chair and vice chair of Eagle House Social Club next to MFM Bristol.

Residents are calling for the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) Bristol building to become a youth centre – photo: Charlie Watts

“They haven’t used it for the last three years and because of the problems we got going on here – damage to our building, drug taking outside – we thought something got to be done,” said Margaret, 72, who was a youth worker for Eagle House Youth Centre for 28 years before it closed in 2014.

“Before lockdown they were there every Sunday, using it as their church but that has all stopped.”

“It was only being used for their community, not the local community, youths or our people,” added Anita, 68, who used to be a community worker for the council in Knowle West.

“We want it back, we got youngsters out in the street. They gather up here because really it should have never been shut down. It should have always stayed as a youth club.”

The committee of Eagle House Social Club on Newquay Road in Knowle West are supporting community activist Carol Casey – photo: Charlie Watts

Carol, 60, says she has tried working with MFM for 18 months and that she has a youth organisation, who do not wish to be named, ready to take the building on.

“What we’re saying now as a community is we’ve had enough of that space not being used when this area is in such a state,” she said.

“We need it back. We need to get control of it back to work with the youth on this estate.”

Newquay Road, where the building is located, is typically among the worst streets for anti-social behaviour in Bristol. Carol has called a meeting at the social club on Tuesday to address the issue.

She says more than 150 people have signed an in-person petition calling for the MFM building to become a youth club again, which is also available online.

Carol says she also has concerns with the ethics of MFM. The church, which has branches across the country, has associations with so-called gay “conversion therapy”.

The back of MFM Bristol is currently overgrown – photo: Charlie Watts

A woman called Kelly Fitzgerald is living in a tent in the overgrown garden at the back of the building, and says she is supporting the campaign for it to become a youth centre again.

“I think we need it back for the kids because they’ve got nothing to do, there’s nothing for them,” she said.

“I am happy here because where else am I going to be? And if it means I got to sit here because it’ll help get that club back, I’ll do it all day long.”

Eagle House Social Club is next to MFM Bristol, which was previously used as a youth club – photo: Charlie Watts

The community asset transfer (CAT) agreement for the building between MFM and Bristol City Council was signed in 2016 and ends in 2026.

But Carol says MFM are not complying with the terms of the agreement, which include running a “wide range of community activities, many of them aimed at local residents and on an ‘open’ (non-religious) basis”.

She says she has raised her concerns with local councillor Chris Jackson, who told Bristol24/7 the council is looking into the issue.

A spokesperson for Bristol City Council said: “Concerns raised by Councillor Chris Jackson and the local community have been heard, and officers have visited Eagle House to meet with the tenant.

“We hope that all parties can discuss options for the space, and land at the rear of the building, to ensure community use in line with the CAT agreement.”

Bristol24/7 was unable to receive a response from MFM Bristol. Pastor Tunde Adeleke said a response would be received from the “appropriate authority”. But despite follow-up calls, texts and emails, one was not received.

Main photo: Charlie Watts

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