CENTURIES OF HISTORY WILL END WITH LEICESTER CHURCH'S CLOSURE

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

 

Centuries of history will end with Leicester church's closure

Nearly 1,000 years of history is to end with the closure of an 11th century church.

Within weeks, the doors of St Peter's Church, in Belgrave, will be bolted shut.

Nearby St Gabriel's Church, on Kerrysdale Avenue, will also close after the Church of England upheld the proposal to decommission the buildings.

Worshippers yesterday said they felt devastated.

A public consultation prompted 135 letters of protest at the plans, most concerning the closure of St Peter's.

At a meeting on Monday at the Church of England's London headquarters, the Diocese of Leicester was given permission to go ahead with the closures.

A spokesman for the Church Commissioners, responsible for church assets, said they "concluded that the parish only needs one church building".

St Alban's Church will be the only church serving Belgrave.

Ian Bewley-Parker, 71, has worshipped at St Peter's Church for most of his life. He used to be church warden.

"I'm devastated," he said.

"I couldn't say right now whether I will go to St Alban's once St Peter's closes."

St Peter's Church is a Grade II listed building that has been traced back to 1082.

Stuart Bailey, chairman of Leicester Civic Society, said the closure was "extremely short-sighted and destructive".

The Diocese of Leicester said it could not afford to keep three churches open in Belgrave.

If there is no appeal, the churches will be closed after Easter.

Did you worship at St Peter's? Did your parents get married there – or did you? We'd love to hear your stories of the church and if you have pictures then we would like to see them. Contact Simon Ward on 0116 222 4262 or: sward@leicestermercury.co.uk