THE attempts to find funding for vital repairs at St John's Church in Coleford have failed and its Diocesan owners and parish worthies have decided to close it for good as a place of worship.

The decision opens the way for a brand new replacement church, but the fate of the iconic old building loved by many who have personal associations with it is unknown.

The Rev Sarah Bick, Vicar of the Coleford, Staunton, Newland, Redbrook and Clearwell Benefice, said: "The Parochial Church Council (PCC) went through a detailed process of seeking estimates of the required repairs to the church.

"It held a public consultation over shared use options and researched the availability of grants and funds. What was discovered during this process was that prospective capital costs to the building came to at least £1.8 million and ongoing running costs were £25,000 per year.

"No grant awarding bodies were able to meet that scale of need, so retaining St John's building as the congregation's place of worship was not viable and the decision to close the building was the only option left.

"The PCC instead wishes to pursue the possibility of building a new church building somewhere in the town, which would meet the needs of the community. Many people from the town have already expressed an interest to engage in further conversations about how a new church building could serve the town and the local people.

"St Johns Church building will become the responsibility of the Diocese of Gloucester and the national Church Buildings Council.  We want to assure the community that the presence of the Church, and the loving God that it represents, will not leave Coleford as there is still a worshipping congregation in the town, and our churches at Broadwell, Staunton, Clearwell, Newland and Redbrook are still open and all are welcome to attend these churches." 

Rev Bick added that the arrangement for the St John's congregation to hold Anglican Sunday services at the nearby Roman Catholic church, St Margaret Mary, could continue in the meantime.

"I hope so, although I have not yet had a chance to consult Fr Barnabus about it," she said.