FOLLOWING a meeting of villagers and others concerned for the future of Newland's All Saints parish church, a quartet of locals is taking the lead in exploring means to keep the church open for continuing worship as well as community use.

"The idea of it being desconsecrated was not popular, even with non-churchgoers," says Tony Evans. "If its religious use ended, the spiritual feel of the place would be lost.

"But there is no conflict between the two usages. Churches in the middle ages were community areas in any case.

"The sanctuary was held holy, but the main space was available for all sorts of activities – just as the market was held in the churchyard around the cross."

The crisis has arisen because of the decision by the arch-diocese to cut off funding for its maintenance and repairs. This follows the recent retirement of former vicar the Rev David Addison.

The weekly congregation is down to a handful, and no longer justifies a paid incumbent. Pastoral care is now provided by the St. John's, Coleford, team ministry.

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) remains owner of the church and its surrounds. It has saved funds for immediate maintenance, but is unable to carry the burden of long term maintenance and repairs.

"Fortunately, the five-yearly structural review was undertaken last year, and shows there is nothing seriously wrong at the moment. Looking to the future, however, it is inevitable that necessary works will arise."

Mr Evans, OBE, is a retired business consultant and his colleagues also have past or present financial experience.

"We have to progress quickly on this, or the process might get bogged down and not achieve anything," he explains.

"So we haven't got a committee as such, but we asked the meeting whether they were happy with this approach and they agreed unanimously. So we have launched the Friends of the Cathedral of the Forest, which will be directly by trustees once it's up and running.

"Our appeal is to the wider Forest, because All Saints has for centuries served a central role – hence its name. We also anticipate support from further afield, since the building – parts of which date back from the early 1200s – is not only architecturally superb, but has masses of significant internal furnishings, including the Miner's Brass.

"Listed Grade I, it is the most distinguished structure in the whole of the Dean. Its setting, with the almshouses and original Bells Grammar School forming part of the square, is incomparable."

Tony's colleagues are Dave Allerton, who lives in The Old Lecturage; John Erskine, whose abode in the old grammar school; and retired accountant Derek James. Brian Davies, trustee of the Dean Heritage Centre, is providing legal advice – and the "Four Musketeers" (as the Review tends to think of them) are calling on other expertise as required.

Membership of the Friends of the Cathedral of the Forest is £10 a year, with additional contributions being welcomed. Subscriptions should be sent to The Friends c/o The Coach House, Almshouse Road, Newland, GL16 8NJ. Newsletters and notification of events will be regularly circulated, and report-back meetings arranged discuss progress and future plans.