A Church of England parish has suspended worship at its main building for the winter months, as leaders say the move offers a chance for prayerful reflection on sustainability and mission.
Saint Mary’s Church in Astbury, Cheshire, has closed its doors for three months during the coldest part of the year, citing the rising cost of heating and the financial pressures of maintaining a large medieval building.
Services are expected to resume on Palm Sunday.
The Grade One listed church, one of the largest in the Diocese of Chester, faces monthly running costs of around eleven thousand five hundred pounds, while regular income falls short of that figure.
Church leaders have launched a million-pound appeal to fund urgent repairs.
In the public appeal, they said: “The church belongs to the whole community, whether you attend regularly, pop in occasionally, or simply enjoy seeing it there every day.”
It added: “With the community’s support, we believe this much-loved landmark can continue to serve and inspire for centuries to come.”
The Rector, the Reverend Heather Carter, who has been in post for eight months, described the decision as necessary but hopeful.
She told the Church Times: “It was limping along when I came, but now we need to act decisively. It can’t be sustained just by the faithful few.”
She said the pause in services was about more than finances, as it "gives us a chance to take stock and reflect on where we stand".
"Where are we going? What’s our vision? How do we become more sustainable?” she said.
Reflecting on concerns about attendance, Rev Carter said: “Churches closed during Covid. People either came back or they didn’t. New people came".
Members of the congregation have been invited to worship at the parish’s daughter church, Saint John’s in Smallwood.
According to the Church Times report, rising energy and maintenance costs are forcing many churches to explore shared ministry, community use agreements, or temporary closures to remain financially viable.
The National Churches Trust has noted that heating and upkeep costs for listed churches have doubled or tripled in recent years, creating difficult decisions for parish leaders seeking to balance worship and stewardship.