Churches 'face ruin' unless new uses can be found

Sam Pratley said communities were struggling to maintain churches

A growing number of Herefordshire's churches and ex-churches face ruin as those in charge face difficulties in finding new uses for them.

Sam Pratley, diocesan secretary and chief executive of the Diocese of Hereford, said with more than 400 churches, his patch had by far the highest ratio of such buildings to people – but many communities struggled to maintain the sites.

He said issues over access to land could be contentious and "the cost of everything is rising, from heating to insurance".

Nationally, the Church of England preferred to "fund people rather than buildings", he added, with the question remaining as to who would "step up" to keep the sites going.

Sam Pratley is highlighting the difficulty in bringing additional uses to churches, and new uses to former churches, amid a need to preserve the buildings

He gave as an example the Church of St Andrew in Wolferlow, north of Bromyard, which dates from the 12th Century but closed to worship in 2006 and is now deteriorating.

Mr Pratley said its Grade II*-listed status, which is partly on account of an enigmatic female effigy in the chancel, restricts what can be done with it, but it must remain publicly accessible.

The Historic England listing describes a stone effigy of a woman with her head supported by two angels and a dog resting at her feet.

Mr Pratley said: "We wouldn't want money for it, but any new owner would have to retain its heritage status, which requires a significant funding."

A previous bid to turn St Andrew's into a home was withdrawn in 2021 following opposition from locals, including relatives of a boy buried alongside the church, he said.

Mr Pratley added: "People say 'you shouldn't do that'. There are emotions around these buildings. But what's the alternative?"

Communities still valued the buildings, Mr Pratley said

Urban churches were not immune to the problems, he said, adding there was a plan to create a music skills centre at Hereford's St Nicholas by Greyfriars Bridge, but it fell through.

One site that found additional use was the 12th Century St Leonard's, in Yarpole, which doubles as a community shop, post office and events space following refurbishment.

Mr Pratley said: "We know our rural communities still value their churches, but our average age of churchgoers is 72."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.