The Greater Manchester churches which could soon disappear amid controversial closure plans
manchestereveningnews.co.ukNearly 20 churches in Greater Manchester could be closed due to rising costs, it has been revealed. The plan, put forward by the Diocese of Liverpool, which oversees churches in Wigan, has already outlined four churches that will be released with another 15 vulnerable to closure.
It costs £1m per year to maintain church buildings in the borough. Dioceses bosses say they have to ‘face the reality that they cannot afford to invest in them all’.
St Anne’s in Beech Hill; St Catharine’s in Scholes; St John the Baptist in New Springs and The Good Shepherd in Bamfurlong have all been confirmed as being in the line to be 'released'. READ MORE: How is levelling up going, Mr Prime Minister? READ MORE: Brexit activist thrown out of Tory fringe event in Manchester as it descends into chaos Under protocol from the Church of England, when a church is released the land and building may be sold or converted into a building providing an alternate use.
The diocese wanted to highlight that this does not mean the closure of the local worshipping community in that area. Church Wigan will still provide congregations that will play an active role in worship and serving their neighbourhoods.
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