More than 350 churches at risk of closure by 2026

A charity says plans to change how easily churches can be closed would reduce the rights of the public
A charity says plans to change how easily churches can be closed would reduce the rights of the public
ALAMY

Hundreds of Church of England churches could be closed and sold or demolished in the next five years, with plans to make it “faster and easier” to dispose of them, charities and priests have warned.

A Church document says that as many as 368 churches have been earmarked for closure within the next two to five years, a rate of closure that would be up to eight times faster than before the pandemic.

It also proposes reducing the amount of consultation needed before closing a church, limiting the rights of local people to object or appeal, and reducing the input from heritage bodies.

A church preservation charity said that “parish churches are public buildings” built for all members of a community and added that the