Charity meets diocese in bid to secure church deal

By Wednesday 29 January 2014 Updated: 30/01 13:57

CAMPAIGNERS face opposition in their bid to save the disused St Matthew’s Church from property developers and keep it in the community.

Charity Greater Things Rugby, which wants to run the town centre landmark as a not-for-profit community centre which would retain its Christian heritage, faces competition from at least one rival bidder.

But the group's chairman says he is optimistic after meeting with Coventry Diocese.

A spokesman for the Diocese said: “We can confirm that more than one bid has been received.

“Churches, like other buildings, can outlive their original purpose. In such cases, careful consideration is given to a suitable alternative use.

“Given the importance of this significant building, we are doing our best to ensure that building will continue to have a viable and sustainable future within the community.”

The spokesman added potential buyers had submitted bids outlining alternative uses for the building and a decision would be made by the Church Commissioners in due course.

The charity, which has put in an offer to buy the church and turn it into The Welcome Centre with the help of a generous benefactor, made its pitch to the Diocese earlier this week.

Chairman Rob Saunders said: “I am hopeful when I hear the diocese talking about the building within the community, implying that it is important.

“We are not aware of another local community group in the bidding. If we were we'd have hopefully picked up on it.

“We felt there was a constructive meeting and we had freedom to share our pitch to the church commissioners' representative, the Diocese representatives in Coventry and some local Anglican clergy.

“We are interested to know how they view our proposals.”

St Matthew’s – opposite Rugby School – closed in 2010 when it was found to require £1million of repair work with the congregation moving to St Oswald’s on Lawford Road.

It has been marketed by agents Godfrey Payton as ‘suitable for a variety of uses, subject to obtaining necessary planning permissions’ for offers around £300,000.

The property has also been identified and recorded as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Act 2011.

Over 700 residents have already signed a petition urging the diocese to accept the group’s offer.

The petition can be found online at http://chn.ge/1ax1SoU and is also available to sign at The Christian Bookshop in Castle Street. Visit www.greaterthingsrugby.org.uk for more information.