Village needs more time to save church

Election is holding up progress

A community in North Devon is asking for more time to come up with a plan to save its parish church and turn it into a heritage skills hub.

Residents were given six months by church authorities to find a long term solution for the St Petroc’s in Petrockstowe in April or it would be sold.

The grade II* listed church closed for worship last year after it fell into disrepair and the congregation shrunk.

A group called ‘Save St Petroc’s’ wants an extension of the deadline set by the Diocese of Exeter after being invited to apply for a grant of up to £15,000 from the Architectural Heritage Fund to see if their plans are viable.

It could be several months before the outcome is known.

The idea to create a heritage skills hub came because of a shortage of trained staff to work on the large number of heritage buildings in the area that need to be maintained. The team says the project would help to create well-paid, highly skilled jobs and allow people to stay in the locality.

A surveyor’s report will outline the cost of making the church fit for occupation. The diocese’s initial estimate for making it watertight was £400,000.

A future use for the church to benefit the whole community has been supported by the diocese, which says any groups taking it on will need to cover the cost of repairs.

Earlier this year, it said: “We will support the community as far as we are able, in their efforts to preserve this historic building and ensure it remains at the heart of village life for generations to come.”

Torridge District councillor Cheryl Cottle-Hunkin (Lib Dem, Shebbear and Langtree), who is part of the Save St Petroc’s team, said after the Anglicans merged with the Methodists in Petrockstowe, they used the methodist chapel for services and the church became surplus to requirements.

She said it is a large, beautiful building which means a lot to people locally and had significant cultural value. Its listed status is currently being reassessed by Historic England and interest had been expressed in the project by the King’s Trust.

“We are making progress, but everything is stuck in the system because of the general election, so we are concerned there isn’t enough time to get everything done. We also understand that there should be two years, not six months, to find an alternative use for a church which is earmarked for closure.”