St Anne’s church, on Bowden Hill, Lacock, Wiltshire has had an epic reprieve from closure.
The Victorian church, founded by a brother of Prime Minister William Gladstone, has been temporarily closed for over two years and faces a repair bill in excess of £250,000. However, a campaign by a Friends group has attracted over 1,500 signatures online, and led to the PCC soundly rejecting a motion to start the deconsecration. Fundraising to repair the church begins this month, with generous offers already evident, but more needed.
John Boldon, spokeman for the Friends of St Anne's, said: 'What has amazed us all is the response to our online petition. With that level of support we are confident we can succeed in our determination to save the church and to get it back in use. We believe an exciting future lies ahead."
Help to keep your church open
If you'd like help to keep your church open and in use we offer a wide range of support services, ranging from grants for major repairs to help with regular maintenance and attracting more visitors. Full information on our Get Support webpages.
If you'd like to support the church, contact fosa@corshamandlacockchurches.org.uk