AN ANGLICAN church could close due to rising costs after being placed under review by the Diocese of Liverpool.

Holy Trinity, in Downall Green has been listed as one site at risk of closure in plans put forward by the diocese.

The diocese says it costs £1m per year to maintain church buildings in the Church Wigan' area which Holy Trinity falls under, and explained they have to "face the reality that they cannot afford to invest in them all".

In the Wigan area four churches, 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 the churches that should be released. 

Another 15 buildings, including the Rectory Road-based Holy Trinity, are being reviewed further across Wigan, but the church has stated they will not be able to afford to retain all of them.

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.

The Star reported recently after St Michael & All Angels Church, in Clock Face, and the church hall at St Nicholas', in Sutton, have been earmarked for closure after being deemed 'high risk' in a review by Church St Helens.

The church says it will still provide congregations that will play an active role in worship and serving their neighbourhoods. For locals, this has been a huge shock, with councillors expressing their disappointment with the decision which threatens the borough’s history and community.

Many of the churches in the region play key roles in the surrounding area and many have acted as food pantries and warm banks during the cost of living crisis and the coronavirus pandemic.

Cllr Laura Flynn, lead member for youth opportunities at Wigan Council, said: “These churches have been at the heart of our communities for hundreds of years and play an important role in bringing people together. We disagree with both the methodology and the decision that is being proposed and ask the Church of England to think again.

“Our churches are more than just buildings to local people and local areas; they are part of the community fabric.” 

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Liverpool said: “Like any wise organisation, we need to steward well the gifts we’ve been given. Our church buildings are a gift from previous generations which still have a deep significance for many people. 

“Yet they must also meet the practical needs of our communities today which are different and sometimes require expensive adaptations. Making decisions about church buildings is difficult, but we owe it to future generations to address this now. 

“The reality is, we cannot afford to maintain and invest in all our church buildings and so I’m grateful for the careful and respectful assessment and look forward to discussing it with church congregations, neighbours and partners in due course, so that we may have the right buildings for the future.”

The 15 buildings being reviewed further, in the Wigan area are: St Andrew’s, Springfield; All Saints, Hindley; St John the Evangelist, Abram; St Peter, Hindley; St James w. St Elizabeth, Bickershaw; St David, Haigh; St Luke, Orrell; St John the Divine, Pemberton; St Barnabas, Marsh Green; St Luke, Stubshaw Cross; Holy Trinity, Downall Green; St George, Wigan; All Saints, Wigan; St Matthew, Highfield; St Paul, Goose Green.