Over 3500 churches have closed in the last 10 years – with many being converted into spas, residential buildings, and even nightclubs.

The National Churches Trust reports around 3000 to 5000 parish churches are either closed, or used intermittently without a permanent vicar.

South Shropshire, along with Louth and Horncastle, are the areas of the country with the highest number of at-risk churches, according to Historic England’s Heritage at Risk Register. Each region has 19 buildings facing the risk of closure.

Premier has learned of one rural dean in South Shropshire who has taken on a rota of services across six churches in addition to his own parish, due to dwindling funds and congregation numbers.

Yet with many buildings having Grade I listed status – there are restrictions on how they can be renovated. A representative from the Church of England told Premier that the situation may not be as dire as it seems, saying: “Only 15 to 20 church buildings are sold each year – and we are proud to have over 15,000 buildings across the country.

“There are rules – our buildings can’t be turned into mosques, for example.” This was the case in Stoke-on-Trent last August, when the CofE blocked a disused church in Stoke-on-Trent from being transformed into a mosque.

However, St Thomas’ United Reformed Church in Woking tells a different story, as it has been purchased by an Islamic group with plans to turn it into a community centre and mosque.

The Daily Mail reports several churches being turned into nightclubs, such as The Chapel Nightclub in Salisbury, Wiltshire - once a Pentecostal church – and Sanctum nightclub in Bournemouth, which was once St Andrew’s United Reformed Church.

The National Churches Trust says it is aiming to combat similar transformations happening elsewhere – and was able to help seven churches come off the Heritage At Risk Register in 2023.