Final days as church goes on the market

St David’s CE Church in Fleetwood is back on the market and is set to be demolished for new housing opportunities.

The building, on the corner of Fleetwood Road and Larkholme Lane, is up for sale with planning permission for four homes – two semi-detached houses.

It is intended that money raised for the sale can be re-invested to create a new church and church hall on the site of the current church hall next door, which is to be called the Church Centre of St David’s and St Peter’s.

The sale of the church is being handled by Preston-based agents Eckersley,

There is no guide price and the sale is being offered on the basis of “offers invited”.

Father John Hall, vicar of the parish of St David’s and St Peter’s, said: “The church has been up for sale before, but the difference now is that it’s got planning permission for housing. We’ve done all the work in advance so the buyers don’t have to.

“Once it is sold we will use the money to re-design the building next door and create the new church and church centre.”

He added: “I am not sure what price is being offered on the site, it is in the hands of the diocese.”

Father Hall said existing activities at the church hall premises, including on-going church services, meetings of the Mustard Seed Group’s hot meals service on Thursday evenings and woodwork sessions on Fridays, will continue as normal until work is due to start in the future.

The 59 year old church building itself first closed in 2012 after maintenance costs became too high.

A leaking roof, problems with the electrical system and other concerns spelt the end of services there.

Soaring repair costs topped £100,000 and meant that continuing in the building was beyond the pocket of the 50 to 60 people who attended services.

After the church closed the congregation for a time shared the facilities at St Edmund’s RC Church on Melbourne Avenue, which was cited as an example of Fleetwood’s different denominations working together.