Three churches that I've found locked recently. I've linked them to Simon Knott's Suffolk Churches website as he was lucky at visiting several years ago.
The first is Hunston ,in the small lanes north of the busy A14 between Stowmarket and Bury St Edmunds
The church is still in use for one service a month but otherwise locked.
Simon Knott was able to get into this small thatched church below which is at Harleston not far from Stowmarket, in 2019, but now it's kept locked except for the occasional service.
Finally, Thwaite, a church not far from my village that isn't used at all but still stands looking sad and neglected. Simon Knott found a keyholder in 2011 and the back story but nothing has been done since.
These faces - headstops - are in the porch, the only bit open to see.
This small building stands closer to the road, it was once used as a Parish Room for the villagers but now boarded up and unused.
Back Soon
Aren't abandoned churches sad to see.
ReplyDeletePenny
I was thinking the exact same thing. I suppose it's partly because there are fewer people working on the land these days.
DeleteLuckily there are very few like Thwaite that are not used in some way, I'm always pleased to find churches open
DeleteHow sad...
ReplyDeleteIt's sad to find churches locked but happens a lot now in some areas
DeleteSo sad that these lovely buildings are unused.
ReplyDeleteI suppose once a month is better than not at all.
DeleteUnfortunately numbers in rural congregations are dropping but towns and urban areas are increasing. The upkeep on a small village church can be nearly £12,000 a year with insurances, heating, maintenance, and keeping the building secure. Also each congregation has to pay its diocese approximately £1000 per person who attends regularly, this is called a share, which can be £20,000 which has to be fundraised, so over £30,000 has to be found from a small congregation who may not have a resident Priest/vicar, it s hard work when a lot of village attendees are well into their 70’s and 80’s. Of course the village still want use of church for weddings and baptisms, after all, it’s so pretty, but more churches will close as the older population dies off. It is indeed very sad but inevitable. Sarah Browne.
ReplyDeleteLuckily in Suffolk most churches are cared for and used - there are not many like Thwaite that are falling to pieces.
DeleteIt's such a shame as they are all lovely buildings in their own way. They just look sad too don't they. :-(
ReplyDeleteThwaite is a small village , just a few houses and farms population of just over 100 - it still manages a pub on the main road but the church needs a lot of money spent
DeleteSo poignant, they would once have been the focus of village communities.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
Luckily most churches I visit are well cared for and most open every day and used at least once a month
DeleteIt used to be so pleasant to wander into any church and look around. No longer, sadly.
ReplyDeleteI'm always pleased when I've driven miles to find the church open and most are and cared for and still used
DeleteI should rent my brother out to Simon Knott - he has a miraculous ability to walk into an empty, seemingly neglected church and have a priest or nun appear out of nowhere to provide history, local color, and advice on where to eat! Admittedly, this usually happened in Italy but I bet it would work in England too and without his having to translate everything back to me . . .
ReplyDeleteSimon Knott doesn't seem to have visited many churches lately - he might have retired from church visiting.
DeleteI did click on your links to get more of the story on these three churches. Fascinating stuff and a bit sad too.
ReplyDeleteAbandoned very old churches (and buildings) are so sad.
ReplyDeleteWhy doesn't the National Trust take on these churches? They all seem very old and historic.