SWAPPING the beer-stained pubs of the conventional gig circuit for the more sacred surroundings of a 14th century church might have seemed a crazy idea but for one Chester-based music fan the move has been a god-send.

Promoter Carl Bennett had been booking folk and Americana shows at the city's Golden Eagle pub on Castle Street when some divine intervention persuaded him to look across the road and seek sanctuary at St Mary's Creative Space.

"I've been into music since an early age," says Carl, who is originally from Connah's Quay and promotes his shows under the Roman Candle banner. "I was lucky that I had older friends so I got into the likes of Bob Dylan, Neil Young and The Band when I was young - it was music I believed in.

"One of my mates told me about the Golden Eagle and I went in there and had a chat with them and they gave me the chance to put on a night which is how Roman Candle started with folk, Americana and roots bands all playing.

"Someone said I should put stuff on in the church over the road and I went to have a look around and I think they were a bit unsure at first. Once I had a chat with them and saw the space I saw it was ideal."

St Mary's certainly has a rich history: the church building dates from the 14th and 15th centuries, but a previous church on the site was built by the Normans and served Chester castle. Damaged in 1645 during the civil war, it collapsed in 1661 and was rebuilt in 1693. Later, in order to provide a clear line of fire during the Jacobite rebellion of 1745, the upper stage of the tower was demolished by Lord Cholmondeley. The church was decommissioned in 1972 and was converted into an educational centre before also becoming a concert and exhibition venue.

"It is stunning and I couldn't believe I didn't know about it," says Carl, 27. "I'd never been in there in my life and I was just blown away and it just suits the kind of music I'm into especially with the acoustics but I'm not actually allowed to call it a church because nothing religious happens there anymore."

The move to St Mary's prompted Carl to start booking bigger and more internationally known acts with last year seeing gigs by the likes of Ryley Walker, John Murry and Terry Reid.

"There's a lot of pressure going from free entry gigs in a pub and a guaranteed fee to having to sell tickets," he says.

"On the night you worry about everything and of course there's no more drinking when I'm running the place.

"The best thing about it is it creates silence. People are in such a great building they all all go quiet which is great for the performers. The response I get from the musicians is great and they all want to come back. I think it's a real shock for them.

"When they walk in they just go 'wow' and we have a great team who have been around music for years and are really professional."

Despite other established venues such as the Live Rooms and Telford's Warehouse, larger acts often bypass Chester preferring to head for the larger markets of Liverpool and Manchester but Carl is determined to change that.

"I remember Ryle Walker didn't even know where Chester was," he laughs.

"It was difficult to convince agents at first but it really picked up after Michael Chapman and Ryle Walker - some of the annoucements we have coming up are brilliant and I'm starting to get a bit of attention.

"If I treat everyone right and if everyone is happy I'll get there."

Despite only moving to the city from North Wales two years ago, Carl already has an affinity with Chester's music scene and he is pleased to do anything to help put the place on the UK's regular gig circuit.

"Sometimes I think my biggest challenge is getting people from Chester to know about us," he says. "We have people travelling form all over - four guys came over from Ireland for the Terry Reid gig - but I want more people from Chester to come and support the gigs."

When not promoting his shows, Carl works as a support worker with a young man with autism.

"I do long 24 hour shifts working 12 days a month so I have time on my hands to do the music," he adds.

"I think Chester audiences are used to watching what they know and so I'm trying to chip away at that preconceptions and I think I'll get there eventually."

Forthcoming gigs at St Mary's include:

Katie Von Schleicher - April 27

Tom Brosseau and Tom Blackwell - May 5

John Smith - May 13

Langhorne Slim - May 21

Anna Burch - July 22

For more information go to: www.romancandlepromotions.co.uk