AMBROSE Reynolds, the man who, for the past nine years, has been synonymous with all things bright and beautiful at Liverpool's bombed out church, says he has high hopes of holding the key of the door for 21 more after a search was launched to find an official operator.

Liverpool City Council is inviting expressions of interest from organisations in for the long haul who can convince it that it can run St Luke's on a financially stable footing until 2037.

The Leece Street landmark was bomb damaged during the blitz in 1941 and is currently closed for essential building work.

Ambrose Reynolds

Today Ambrose Reynolds, artistic director of “Bombed-Out Church”, a group of volunteers who have kept St Luke’s open to the public since 2007, said his team’s past work had to count for something when the final decision is made on who takes over for good.

Reynolds has tirelessly driven the revival of St Luke's, curating events as diverse as tai chi, yoga, cinema screenings, art exhibitions - including one featuring the work of Yoko Ono - rock, pop, and classical music performances. Ono, Paul McCartney and Holly Johnson have all publicly endorsed his work.

He said: “We are confident that our bid to continue running the space as a visitor centre, arts venue and outdoor cinema for the city and its visitors has a strong chance of success, built on the consistent hard work that we have put in over the last decade,” he said.

“St Luke’s has always been a monument of the people and for the people and it must remain that way.”

The call out for an operator follows a consultation in 2015. Of the 6,300 people who responded, most were supportive of limited development and events taking place at the site.

It is the latest turn in a long saga which began in 2014 when Mayor Joe Anderson decreed that the crumbling church would be  sold for redevelopment - for as little as £1. 

Plans were quickly drawn up by Liverpool entrepreneur Lawrence Kenwright to turn it into a glass roofed wedding venue and boutique hotel. However following widespread criticism that the idea showed no respect for the church's role as a World War II monument they were thrown out.

The council later made a commitment to keep the church in civic ownership with Mayor Joe declaring that the people would decide on how it should be run.

Launching the search for an operator, it said: “In return for a 21-year lease on a peppercorn rent, the successful applicant will have to demonstrate that they can run a financially viable programme of events with profits reinvested into the operation, maintenance and improvement of the site. They will also be required to allow public access to St Luke’s at no charge when events are not being held.”

The new operator is expected to take over in December 2016 following completion of £500,000 of structural work, funded jointly by Historic England and Liverpool City Council. Crumbling high level stonework is being replaced and, over the coming months, there will also be repairs to the tower, lower level stonework and perimeter railings.

Reynolds said he was delighted with the way the repair work was going after he and some of his volunteers were recently allowed back into to St Luke’s for the first time since it closed in September 2015. 

Read: 'I don't know if I'll hold the keys to St Luke's again'

“The team are delighted with the progress that has been made in the last few months,” he said. “It’s good to see that this historic building is being conserved in a sensitive and considerate manner after so many decades of neglect by previous political administrations."

He added: “The essential work that this council administration have put into the church will ensure that it remains intact for future gener tions, no matter who the council decide should take on its future management”.

Councillor Mark Norris, Mayoral lead for heritage at Liverpool City Council, said: “We are absolutely committed to preserving and protecting St Luke’s Church. It is one of Liverpool’s crown jewels and is of huge cultural and historical value to the city.

“We now want to find the right operator that is sensitive to the very special nature of the site and can come up with an events programme that respects the surroundings and is consistent with the results of the public consultation.”

Interested parties have until 7 March to confirm their intent to submit an application, and the deadline for final submissions is 27 May. They can apply at www.liverpool.gov.uk/bombedoutchurch