Letter of Support from SMICF

Friends of St Mary in the Castle 'disappointed' over Sonrise decision to end lease.
By Richard Gladstone - Hastings Observer

The Friends of St Mary in the Castle have said they are 'disappointed' over Sonrise Church's decision to end its lease of the building.
The move comes after the latter announced its decision last week because of allegations of harassment from people.

Ron Sollars, secretary of the Friends of St Mary in the Castle, said: "Originally there was opposition to the way the lease was granted by Hastings Borough Council without consultation even with the Friends group themselves, formed by former Friends members who restored and administered the building from 1993.

"However we feel that Sonrise have done a great job in maintaining the building with many improvements.

"The Friends feel it is important for a new leaseholder to be appointed quickly and not for the building to be closed and left to deteriorate.
Owing to its unique construction the building is set into the rock under Hastings Castle and continual maintenance is essential.

"The Friends urge anybody interested in this remarkable piece of Hastings history to contact councillors to urge speedy tendering for a new lessee."

Sonrise Church, which took over the running of St Mary in the Castle in January last year, said it has endured a campaign of hatred from a small group of people for almost two years and plans to vacant the premises in January.

Glenn and Cathy Khan, senior pastors, said they have had to put up with constant harassment from a minority of 'nameless, faceless people'.

On one occasion eggs were thrown at their front door at their home and their car vandalised, the couple told the Observer.

Mr and Mrs Khan said: "We would like to thank all those who have given us their support and encouragement over the past year.

"As many in the community will be aware, since January 2007 we have been the subjects of a faith hate campaign. So extreme has this campaign against us as a family been that on several occasions we have had to involve the police.

"We are no longer willing to put our family, our home and congregation at risk due to a small minority of people who have opposed our tenancy from the outset."

Sonrise Church was given a five-year lease to run St Mary in the Castle by the council which caused uproar within the arts community.

Deputy mayor Peter Armstrong likened the animosity towards the church as 'some of the worst excesses of the French Revolution'.

He said: "Since Sonrise Church took over it has had more than 100 events at St Mary in the Castle and more than 2,500 people through the doors so it has done what it promised to do.

"The church has been slandered and libelled against and received very unpleasant threats."

Hastings Arts Forum said it did not believe any of its members had been responsible for the alleged harassment of Sonrise Church.

The Friends will also be contacting other agencies who may be interested in running St Mary in the Castle in future.