More than 3,500 churches have closed across the UK in the last 10 years, with many being converted into spas, residential buildings, and even nightclubs.
The National Churches Trust (NCT) reports around 3,000 to 5,000 parish churches are either closed, or used intermittently without a permanent vicar.
NCT chair Sir Philip Rutnam warned the “priceless heritage” of “historic and beautiful” churches in England is in danger “as never before.”
He was commenting after 53 churches, chapels, and meeting houses were added to Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register last year.
Sir Philip said the situation could get worse in the coming months if the UK Government chooses not to renew the Listed Places of Worship Grants Scheme which is due to expire at the end of this month.
The scheme offers tax concessions on eligible repairs to a listed place of worship.
FEARS THAT CHURCHES WILL BE LEFT TO ROT BECAUSE THERE’S NO MONEY TO SAVE THEM
Sir Philip explained: “Our fear is that many of the churches on the register will be simply left to rot and decay, as there is a desperate shortage of money to look after this heritage.”
There are 969 places of worship deemed by Historic England to be at risk of closure.
That’s because of the soaring costs of repairs, vanishing attendance in many smaller churches, and a critical shortage of clergy.
Most of the churches at risk are run by the Church of England (CofE).
South Shropshire, along with Louth and Horncastle, are the areas of the country with the highest number of at-risk churches, according to the Heritage at Risk Register.
Premier Christian News (PCN) has learned of one rural dean in South Shropshire who has taken on a rota of services across six churches in addition to his own parish, due to dwindling funds and congregation numbers.
CHURCHES TURNED INTO MOSQUES AND NIGHTCLUBS DESPITE RENOVATION RESTRICTIONS
Yet with many buildings having Grade-1 listed status, there are restrictions on how they can be renovated.
CofE told PCN that the situation may not be as dire as it seems, pointing out that: “Only 15 to 20 church buildings are sold each year, and we are proud to have over 15,000 buildings across the country.”
“There are certain rules such as buildings being banned from being converted into mosques.”
This was the case in Stoke-on-Trent last year when CofE blocked a disused church from being transformed into a mosque
However, St Thomas’ United Reformed Church in Woking tells a different story, as it has been purchased by an Islamic group with plans to turn it into a community centre and mosque.
The Daily Mail reports several churches have been turned into nightclubs, such as The Chapel Nightclub in Salisbury, Wiltshire which was once a Pentecostal church.
The Sanctum Nightclub in Bournemouth was formerly St Andrew’s United Reformed Church.
The NCT says it is aiming to prevent similar transformations happening elsewhere.
It has been able to get some churches off the Heritage At Risk Register in recent years, but is not optimistic of saving many.
IS THERE ANY HOPE OF BEING ABLE TO PREVENT CHURCHES FROM CLOSING?
“We hope to save more in future years, but we are seeing more and more churches in financial distress,” said NCT chief executive, Claire Walker.
“Demand for our grants is now so high that, in 2024, we could only fund one in four grant applications that we received.”
“Everybody can see for themselves the beauty of historic churches.”
“Less well known is the fact that churches contribute more than A$100 billion a year to the UK in social good.”
“They also provide preventative health and social support that would cost the NHS an additional A$17 billion a year to fund — a figure equal to employing 230,000 nurses.
“What is needed is a national plan to repair and save more of England’s churches.”
“It needs to bring together the Government, Christian denominations, and heritage bodies, so that money can be effectively targeted at churches at risk.”
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