KATES Hill residents campaigning to save a landmark church have been givena glimmer of hope in their fight to prevent its closure.
St John’s Church Preservation Group was delighted to hear it may be given permission to start work on essential repairs to the building, subject to final agreements.
Since forming in 2007, the group has been invovled in lengthy discussions with the parochial church council and the Diocese of Worcester.
Discussions have now led to the St John’s Church Steering Group being set up, which is being headed by the Archdeacon of Dudley and consists of representatives from the preservation group, the diocese, St John’s Church Parochial Church Council, English Heritage and St Thomas’s ward councillors.
The church was originally closed in November 2002 on safety grounds but subsequent surveys carried out in 2005 and 2008 showed the 169-year-old building is actually structurally safe and capable of repair.
Deb Brownlee, chairman of the preservation group said: “We sought agreement through the steering group to do sufficient work to make the building waterproof while further explorations regarding the future for St John’s continue.
“This will buy time for the building, which at the moment suffers more damage every time it rains.”
She added: “The steering group has now agreed on a commissioning architect, who will prepare a workplan – this is the first stage towards obtaining permission to carry out the repairs.”
The Archdeacon of Dudley, the Ven Fred Tretheway, said: “The steering group is making progress in tackling the need for basic repairs to the building and in working towards a feasibility study on the options for its future.
“We are hopeful a plan will emerge that will enable the church building to have a new lease of sustainable life.”
However, to enable the new lease of life, the preservation group needs to raise £16,000 to cover the cost of the work and is urgently seeking donations and newhelpers to implement a fundraising action plan.
For more details, visit savestjohnschurch.zoomshare.com
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