Fresh start on cards for 135-year-old Ludlow church

Parishioners hope that 2017 will mark a fresh start for St John the Evangelist Church.

The church was granted its own parish this year despite the bulk of the building being closed due to falling plaster.

The main inside area of the church on Gravel Hill was closed in December 2013.

Since then its 50-strong congregation has had to hold Sundays services in the chancel.

St John's dates from 1881 and church leaders have now been given Awards for All funding to look at the building.

They have announced plans to hold a fundraising campaign to boost the fund to allow repairs to be carried out.

But now leaders at St John's have been granted money to appoint architects to look at the building, which dates back to 1881 – and have announced plans to launch a "major fundraising campaign" in the new year to help pay for any work that needs to be done.

Project manager Sam Hine said it was a step closer to a new chapter for the Victorian-era church.

She said: "It used to be part of the St Laurence's parish, but now it has its own parish. Unfortunately, in December 2013 falling ceiling plaster led to a decision to close the nave.

"Many of the other activities and events that took place in the church have had to be put on hold or relocated.

"St John's Ludlow was recently granted parish church status by the church commissioners following a proposal from the Diocese of Hereford and a new Parochial Church Council was formed in July this year."

She said the church had provided worship space for more than 100 years and had been a familiar venue for weddings, baptisms and funerals for the people of Ludlow.

"Unfortunately, in December 2013 falling ceiling plaster led to a decision to close the nave and, while St John's congregation continues to worship every Sunday in the chancel, many of the other activities and events that took place in the church have had to be put on hold or relocated," she said.

"Over the past three years much thinking has been taking place on the best way forward for the building.

"A local household survey in 2014 identified that many people want to see the church fully reopened and in greater use by the wider community for all sorts of activities, including parent and toddler groups, community lunches, concerts, exhibitions, knit and natter, second-hand clothes and toy sales and many other activities.

"A partnership has been forming between St John's and Living Waters Christian Fellowship, to explore the opportunities for sharing the building in the future and opening it up for community use beyond Sunday services."

Now there was light at the end of the tunnel, she said, as St John's had been granted Awards for All funding to appoint architects to draw up plans for the future with more details to be announced about the fundraising campaign in the coming months.

The church has provided services, births and Christenings for years.

Anyone wanting to get involved with the project is asked to call the Rev Kelvin Price on 07799 243867 or email Ms Hine on sam@samhine.co.uk