Plans to revive church shut after disrepair

A dilapidated 1,000-year-old church could be reopened for services, the local Church of England diocese has said.

The Church of St Augustine in Oundle Road, Peterborough, has been closed since 2022.

The Diocese of Ely, which runs the building, said more than £300,000 was needed to repair issues including water ingress and the condition of the roof.

Samuel Pedlar, community adviser at the diocese, said it had been in "active discussions" with other Christian denominations for one of them to take over the church.

"It is important for the church to be opened again," he said.

"We see it as a great community asset."

Historic England says the urgency of the repairs are classed as category A, and says there is an "immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric".

On Tuesday, community groups and church stakeholders were invited to a meeting to discuss the future of the Woodston church, as it is popularly known locally.

Mr Pedlar said there was six inches of water on the floor when the diocese examined the church "a few years back" for the Historic England survey.

He said "holding repairs" had stopped the damage worsening.

The diocese was talking to other Christian denominations who were interested in buying the building it, he said.

"[They would] start worshipping there and open it for the use of schoolchildren for their services, ringing of church bells, and any other community events they agree with," he explained.

Elaine Wilkinson, tower captain at the church, welcomed the news.

"It was a flourishing, beautiful church. Now it is crumbling," she said.

"When it closed it was so sad - myself and other bell-ringers felt our hearts were crushed. Because we were ionate about it and wanted it to keep going.

"It looks like we may have a great partnership to get involved with and hope the bells keep ringing."

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