Charting the decline of Christianity
While on the one hand I applaud the magnificent and biggest Hindu Temple in the Midlands, on the other, I wonder if the people of Leicester notice the demise of Christianity in our city.
This is not, repeat not, a racist view as many of my friends are Leicester Asians, but a statement of fact.
I was born and bred in Leicester and brought up in a Church of England School, Saint Barnabas, whose church is soon to be sold. I was married at St Alban's Church, in Weymouth Street, thankfully saved at the moment, but whose sister churches, St Gabriel's and St Peter's, Belgrave, full of history, are up for sale.
Add St Saviour's Church and that makes four churches up for sale, which I feel is only the thin end of the wedge.
The writing is on the wall for Leicester obviously sooner than later. Maybe even now we have more temples and mosques than churches and we Christians will be the minority.
After living here all my life, I now feel a total foreigner in my own city and am considering moving out!
G L Astill, Leicester
City parish is looking forward to renaming service
At a service of the Eucharist (Mass) on Sunday, September 5, at 4pm Bishop Christopher, Assistant Bishop of Leicester, will rename St Alban's Church, Weymouth Street, "The Church of the Resurrection" so that parish and parish church share the same dedication.
Bishop Christopher will also baptise new Christians and confirm those further along their faith journey.
This is a big and joyful day in the life of the people of the Parish of the Resurrection who seek to develop their work of Christian service throughout the parish, among all peoples without distinction, and for whom their parish church is the "power house" from which, in the growing company of Christians, they move into and among the communities that make up the parish witnessing to the love of God by active care and compassion.
For our developing Christian community this is a day and a celebration of "New Life": a confirmation of our confident looking forward in faith!
This change will not affect our community centre which will remain St Alban's Community Centre.
All friends of the parish and the parish church are welcome to join us for the celebration!
Rev Tony Coslett, team rector
Churches close
Two city churches were set to close their doors for the last time today.
St Peter's Church, off Thurcaston Road, Belgrave, and St Gabriel's, in Kerrysdale Avenue, off Gipsy Lane, were set to close today.
The two churches form the Parish of the Resurrection, which also includes St Alban's, in Weymouth Street.
A decision to shut both St Peter's and St Gabriel's was taken by the Church of England because of dwindling congregations and costly heating and repair bills.
Two churches to close in Leicester this month over costs
Two churches will close this month because the diocese can no longer afford to keep them open.
St Peter's, off Thurcaston Road, Belgrave, Leicester, and the nearby St Gabriel's, in Kerrysdale Avenue, will hold their final services on Sunday, June 27.
A day later, both buildings will be officially shut.
The decision was taken after a long consultation about their future and an unsuccessful campaign to save the 11th century St Peter's.
From next month, St Alban's, in Weymouth Street, will be the only church serving Belgrave.
Father Tony Coslett, team rector for the parish, said: "This is not about failure. It is not about retreat. It is about re-grouping. When a church closes it is remarkably sad. I am gutted.
"St Alban's will now become a powerhouse of the parish.
"We look forward to serving the community from this church.
"The Church of England is still committed to this area. We will still have a lot going on."
He said the closures were not solely for financial reasons.
However, the parish has faced a drop in numbers at services, dwindling collections and escalating bills, meaning it could only afford to keep one church open.
The parish chose St Alban's because it said it had better facilities and was cheaper to run.
A public consultation prompted 135 letters of protest at the plans, most concerning the closure of St Peter's. Despite that, in February, the Church of England upheld the parish's proposals to decommission the buildings.
Church Commissioners said the parish only needed one building. Ian Bewley-Parker, 71, who worshipped at St Peter's for most of his life and used to be churchwarden, said the decision to close the churches was "stupid".
Janet Lucas, who lives near the church, said: "They have shot themselves in the foot.
"I do not think they are going to get the people in St Alban's."
She said she hoped the churches would have a public open day before their doors were bolted, for the benefit of the community as well as the congregations.
St Peter's is a grade II-listed building with a history dating back to 1082.
St Gabriel's was built in the mid-1960s.
It has not been decided what will happen to the buildings after they close.
A spokesman for the Diocese of Leicester said following the closures on June 28 the management of the churches would be handed from the parochial church council to the diocese's board of finance.
He said: "There will be a series of meetings and discussions between interested parties about the future of the buildings.
"These could include talks between people including the city council and English Heritage. It will be an ongoing process."
The final services on June 27 will get under way at St Peter's at 3pm and at St Gabriel's at 6.30pm.
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
