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Staff sacked as Norwich SPCK bookshop closes

SPCKOutsideWeb The future of Norwich’s only city-centre Christian bookshop is uncertain after it closed its doors yesterday (February 5) and all its staff were sacked.

The SPCK Resource Centre’s five staff were all fired via an e-mail from owners Mark and Phil Brewer from the Saint Stephen the Great Charitable Trust, which bought the 25-strong SPCK bookshop business in October 2006.

Norwich manager Jim Channell, who has lost his job, said: “All the staff were fired today by e-mail for not signing new employment contracts which were offered to them. It is very sad and a tremendous waste. I can’t see that it has a future with the present owners.

“There is definitely a need for such a bookshop and resource centre in Norwich and we would like to see it continue.”

The rejected new staff employment contracts included a ban on any pay for overtime and that no events could be held at the Resource Centre which were not in Eastern Orthodox-style.

The Forget-Me-Not Café, which is also at the SPCK Centre, at St Michael at Plea, Redwell Street, is still open and a notice pinned to the door states that the bookshop will reopen on February 18.

The Norwich move echoes other recent closures around the country including sackings and closures in Lincoln, Sheffield, Canterbury and Cambridge.

SSG chairman Mark Brewer told The Bookseller that the company has had to carry out “cost cutting” in order to safeguard the rest of the chain. “As we move into the second month of 2008, some of the SSG bookshops have experienced the same reduced footfall and sales as most every other bookseller and high street retailer,” he said.

“In some of our locations for the good of the overall chain, we have had to take the decision of cost-cutting. We have temporarily closed Canterbury and Cambridge and intend to reopen both after re-fitting and re-stocking these shops. We have other locations slated either for reduced operating hours, temporary closure or permanent closure.”

In Norwich, great concern about the bookshop’s future has been expressed by Norwich church leaders.

Rev Nicholas Vesey, vice chairman of Transforming Norwich, said: “I am extremely sad and concerned to hear of the closure. I am sad for the staff as they have provided great support for the area’s Christian community for a number of years.

“It would be very sad to see both Christian bookshops in Norwich city centre close down. SPCK is an important resource centre not just for books but also for candles, presents, cards and CDs. Its permanent closure would make a big difference to the city’s Christian community.”

To read an update to this article, click here

www.spckonline.com

www.ststephentrust.org.uk

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	Pete (Guest)	07/02/2008 05:41
If you follow this link, it looks as though a company called Third Name Books is now running the shop http://thirdspacebooks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=51
	Ruth Brett (Guest)	07/02/2008 09:10
Can I encourage people to use the above link and add your comments about this closure... here is the one that I wrote! Dear Sir I am appalled at the way that you have dismissed staff by email at the Norwich branch of the SPCK. This has always been a well supported and loved ecumenical shop and the closure of this as well as the dismissal of loved and dedicated staff will be a great loss to our Christian community. We as Christians come from many diverse backgrounds, surely this is something that we should delight in, that God reaches us on so many different and varied ways. I have just come back from the College of Preachers Conference where we did not have any idea of the traditions that members were from, neither did it matter, we were there to worship God, delight in Him and to learn together. In this post Christendom secular world that we live in, surely we need to be seen to be batting from the same side, not imposing rules and regulations that refuse Christians other than those from the Eastern Orthodox tradition a place in which to express themselves. Shame on you! Ruth Brett
	philip neave (Guest)	07/02/2008 14:22
Itis a great shame that this closure follows the demise of CLC .The staff were always friendly and helpful and i pray that they will find a way forward from this.What is wrong with talking to staff - a dreadful way to find you are redundant.Let us all unite in prayer for a good christian resource centere for Norwich.
	Dave (Guest)	07/02/2008 18:13
"Forget it and move on. You can't move into the future if you concentrate on the past." What a completely insensitive comment to make, did you not read the bit where it said "All the staff were fired today by e-mail"? Is it really that easy to just move on when you've just been made unemployed? Jim and everyone involved, my prayers are with you. I loved the shop and the job you did.
	Revd Neil Walker (Guest)	07/02/2008 18:19
As a long standing customer of the SPCK bookshop in Norwich (and also of the CLC when that was open for business), I want to express my sadness, not only at the closure of the Redwell Street shop, but also at the way it has been done. I have visited the shop to browse and to buy for many years, but over the last few months new publications have been conspicuous by their absence on the shelves, simply because of the sectarian policy imposed by the new owners. By contrast, when the shop was owned by SPCK new books were readily available soon after publication, and when it was necessary to order them, the polite and efficient staff did so quickly. We have lost a great shop, and will miss the wonderful staff, too. Let us hope for a new beginning!
	Elizabeth (Guest)	08/02/2008 01:57
Thanks to all the staff at SPCK Norwich, you did a fantastic job and were always so helpful and friendly! You are all in my prays!
	Lynda Edwards (Guest)	08/02/2008 09:30
I have a feeling the bosses of SPCK have had long term plans to close it. Towards the latter part of last year I wanted to buy a new Lectionary. I was told they were not allowed to have it on display but I had to order it! As I needed it sooner rather than later I walked over to the Cathedral shop and bought a Lectionary straight away. I have had previous experience of remotely based bosses of an employer wanting to close a branch so I know the signs. Shame as I have liked the SPCK shop.
	Revd. Peter Howard (Guest)	08/02/2008 11:16
We need to remember that the SPCK bookshops were sold to a new owner last year. This owner an Orthodox charity had assured SPCK that the broad aims of the shops would continue. This has not been the case and the shop has suffered since. It was unfortunate that a hopeful management buy-out never worked out. I think that we may need to look to an alternative in the future. Maybe the two Cathedral Bookshops might expand to take up the slack or the local Christian Community or benefactor might consider setting up a trust for a new shop. The St. Michael at Plea premises are of course rented from the appropriate authorities. They must have a say in future use of the premises. A change of heart by St. Stephen the Great might lead to a solution otherwise the re-opened shop, would lose my custom as its censorship policy undermines what I want from my local Christian bookshop.
	annabelle (Guest)	08/02/2008 19:11
it is very sad that such a wonderful resource has been sold to new owners with a very narrow christian veiwpoint. spck had always sought to embrace all streams of christianity and to serve the local christian population a wide range of books and other christian items. this was done by an extremely loyal hardworking staff who loved their jobs (until they became SSGLLC), and who were no longer able to offer the great service & reputation that spck norwich had become known and well respected for. To be expected to work under the new detrimental contract that was being offered must have been devastating - I wish to say a huge thank you to all the staff both recent and all those who previously worked at the norwich shop for all their hard work which has come to such a sad end. God be with you all.
	Eileen Clarke (Guest)	13/02/2008 18:39
I was shocked to find out that the SPCK bookshop has been closed, even more shocked to hear that the staff recieved their notice via the e-mail. I rely on this wonderful shop for my Sunday school teaching books, I pray that it will soon be reopened and the staff returned to their places they were always so helpful and kind. There is nowhere else in Norwich I can get the things I need. Please let us keep a Christian witness alive in the SPCK bookshop in Norwich.

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