Proposed plan brings new purpose for London's oldest cathedral: creative incubator

After nearly two centuries as a place of worship in downtown London, Ont., the future could bring an additional use for the historic St. Paul's Cathedral: creative sector incubator.

Currently in the early stages, the proposed plan would see the cathedral and lands reimagined as part place of worship, part incubator hub aimed at growing London's creative sector.

The idea is that the hub would, among other things, spur economic growth in the music sector, create a collaborative network involving music industry leaders, and help post-secondary graduates find employment in the industry, a recent report from London city staff says.

It would also help London keep its 2021 UNESCO City of Music designation, the report says, a status which is contingent upon the city carrying out a four-year action plan as part of its UNESCO submission. Music incubation was among the action plan goals.

An update on the matter went before the strategic priorities and policy committee meeting on Tuesday afternoon.

Councillors voted to have city staff continue talks with Trinity Centres Foundation, a Montreal-based charity which has been selected to develop a business plan in partnership with the cathedral and the Anglican Diocese of Huron. The plan is expected next year.

The secular non-profit is known for repurposing underutilized church buildings into community hubs and affordable housing.

Kendra Fry, an associate with Trinity, said the hub would be part of a larger project between the charity and diocese that involves the "creative reimagining and reinvigorating of all of their Anglican spaces," amid a decline in religious attendance locally and across Canada.

"They were looking to reinvigorate their purpose for the common good within their communities," Fry said. 

"In the case of St. Paul's, they own the majority of that block in the downtown core. They want to reinvigorate the usage of the cathedral, as well as the lands which include two office towers that they hold the land lease on."

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Across Canada, church congregations are dwindling and costs to maintain their buildings continue to rise. So where does that leave the approximately 27 thousand buildings across Canada? Kendra Fry helps congregations rethink some of those spaces as full community hubs for everyone to use, making their towns and cities more inviting.

Bishop Bob Bennett, the interim bishop of St. Paul's Cathedral, told CBC News that church members have been asking more about the future of the historic structure, which is the seat of the Diocese of Huron and London's oldest cathedral, built in the mid-1840s.

"It's a great big property and we've got a lot of room. The congregation is, of course, not what it was years ago," said Bennett, who served as the 12th Bishop of Huron until 2016. Bennett's current role as St. Paul's interim bishop began just over a year ago and ends next week.

"The shift in the life and culture of downtown has become a very different place than it was 10-20-30 years ago, everybody knows that. The city knows that. And they're trying to rejuvenate downtown, and there's a link between the life of the cathedral and downtown," he said.

Repurposing much of the cathedral to meet changing community needs, and creating an incubation hub for the creative sector, would also rejuvenate St. Paul's life as a Christian centre in London's core, Bennett said.

"We are committed to downtown and London. It's where we are, it's where God has laid us, and we've been here for so long and we want to stay here, but it means some significant changes for the life of this place. But I find that exciting," he said.

Plans for a creative incubator hub have been in the works since April, and a recent survey by the city and Fanshawe College highlighted its need, with roughly 74 per cent of respondents saying incubation was "crucial for the growth" of London's creative sector, the staff report says.

"Graduates look for opportunities to enter the workforce, and incubation is a proven tool that helps new graduates and emerging professionals enter the industry," said Cory Crossman, the director of the London Music Office, a division of Tourism London, in a statement.

"This would ideally consist of three primary focus areas — creative space, knowledge exchange and business connection space."

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More than 1,000 students study music at local post-secondary institutions, he said. A space allowing emerging talent to learn and develop is key to advancing the local creative industry.

Trinity was among three organizations who responded to the city's request for expressions of interest.

City staff had sought between 20,000 and 40,000 square feet of space located in London's entertainment district, with a primary performance space and options for 24/7 access, among other requirements.

The city says it's also in talks with the province about potential funding programs to support the incubation hub.