News | The Beacon of Lansdown

A BEACON OF LANSDOWN UPDATE - TUESDAY 28 APRIL

Collaboration, innovation, sustainability and an exciting future were the buzz words for the second Beacon of Lansdown community meeting.

The novel collaboration between St Stephen's and the University of Bath has now been joined by local architects, Studio Saar making our project journey ever more exciting. Times are undoubtedly challenging, but St Stephen's remains focused on delivering a refurbished and sustainable church fit for the next 185 years. Worship and community needs are the guiding principles, but sustainability, decarbonisation and innovative design are the keystones for a community focused church.

Rev Philip Hawthorn

"Over the 6 months since we launched the Beacon of Lansdown seed funding phase via the ‘Evening with Dame Mary Berry’, we have raised something in the order of £35,000 (and counting!) . . ."

"There are exciting times ahead which we approach with joy, prayer, hope and dedication."

Studio Saar

Frome-based architects, Studio Saar have been hired by St Stephen's to present initial project concept ideas and drawings. Watch out for further news in October 2026.

What the locals said

A word cloud image of key words which featured in the 2026 community survey run by the University student team.

Looking to the future

Blue sky thinking! How St Stephen's could work with the community in the future. Visions to think about . . .

Going for gold

St Stephen's currently holds the bronze A Rocha award. Ideas on how we can achieve the coveted gold award are all here.

University of Bath

The inspirational team presented their report on the innovative sustainability collaboration. The work's designed to cut carbon emissions and explore sustainable options to support new and financially viable community uses for the building alongside worship.

A WOLF MOON OVER ST STEPHEN'S

January's wolf moon spectacularly hovered behind St Stephen's! Appropriately this phenomenon is about transformation, and strength forged in darkness before renewal arrives. So how very apt for the Beacon of Lansdown!

You will be delighted to hear the update on the project's progress to date.

Since our launch last November, we’ve already raised in excess of £31k for this essential project.

With the help of this money we’re excited that we've:

appointed an architectural firm, Studio Saar, to produce Stage 2 design ideas and illustrative sketches by end October ‘26, and
started to plan recruiting a part-time Beacon Project Director to drive the project forward.

And a Bath University student engineering/architectural team have been giving us their time and energy to work on ideas to maximise the sustainability of any designs. The students delivered their initial report at an Open Evening at St Stephen's on Tuesday 28 April. Watch out for more information on this event.

Photo: by Greg Wyber

SATURDAY 5 JUNE - SUNDAY 14 JUNE, 2 - 4 PM daily

A week-long festival to celebrate and give thanks for Rev Philip’s joyful time in the Benefice as he retires after 16 years on Lansdown. It's also a shout out for the fabulous Church community and neighbourhood groups, clubs and activities which make our Benefice so special. Featuring in Lansdown Open Garden's programme (Sunday 6 June) as an 'indoor garden', Benefice community groups will create a decorative twig fest of twigs, flowers and nature related items. Each daily opening will also feature a drop-in event from creating flower collages, making miniature ferns, decorating prayer and peace trees through to tours of St Stephen's stained glass windows. A Branch Out pop up cafe will be available to purchase mouth-watering home bakes, tea and coffee. Watch the website for the full week's programme.

Free to visit; pop up events with voluntary donations; cafe for refreshment purchases.

FRIDAY 5 JUNE, 7 PM

ST STEPHEN'S

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

An evening of hilarity, joyful recollections and revelations from our retiring Rector, Revd Philip Hawthorn. Don't miss this final opportunity to hear Revd Philip talk about his intriguing career, 'From Watford to Lansdown in Five Careers'.

A talk with wine. Tickets £15.

BOOK NOW

Mary Berry at St Stephen's

Mary Berry's fantastic talk, A Slice of Life, was a sell out. We raised in excess of £4k from the evening - a fantastic start to our Beacon of Lansdown fundraising.