Commissioners confirm church to be knocked down

The land could be used for alms houses authorities say

A Grade II-listed Anglican church in Cornwall is to be demolished for safety reasons, church commissioners have confirmed. St Paul's in Truro has been shut to the public since 2008 because of concerns the 115-year-old tower is unsound, with decay on the east side of the building.

The move follows a hearing on 5 September with 13 objections on matters including the loss of an iconic building, failure to consider enough alternative uses and claims the structural issues have been "over emphasised".

The Diocese of Truro said it had "exhausted all possibilities" for finding an alternative use for the Victorian building.

The tower was completed in1910

Truro's diocesan secretary Simon Cade said: "We are sorry that such a well-loved and beautiful building has now come to the end of its life."

He said the diocese pledged to hear from neighbours in Agar Road about their thoughts about the future.

"It is our preferred option to use the land for alms houses, but we are very much at the beginning of that work," he said.

The church held a consultation about the building.

Parishioners have had to worship elsewhere after the church was considered unsafe

Several people have proposed alternative uses for the building.

Daniel Edwards proposed putting a steel skeleton in the church and suggested various uses, including standalone crafts heritage workshop boxes in both naves, and a café.

There was also some interest in creating climbing and bouldering walls in the tower.

The Victorian Society said it was "disappointed" partial demolition and restoration had not been considered.

The church's nave and south aisle were constructed in 1848 and the east end and north aisle were added in the 1880s to designs by the renowned Victorian architect John Dando Sedding.

The tower was completed in1910, with designs by his nephew Edmund Sedding.

The society said the stone at the building's east end and tower had decayed dangerously and would need a lot of work to ensure it was structurally sound and safe.

Truro City Council member Bert Biscoe told the commissioners he accepted the building needed to come down and wanted the land to be used to provide "a communal pastoral and spiritual focus for the neighbourhood".

The council had also suggested the land could be used for affordable housing, and said items including stained-glass windows, its organ and bell should be rehomed.