A church in North Wales, labelled “one of the nicest” in the region could fall victim to bulldozers, angering the congregation.
Villagers could save the 110-year-old St Mary’s Church, in Northop Hall, from ruin - but only if they can gather £100,000 to secure the purchase.
The Church of Wales has given them until the end of the year to fetch the money, North Wales Live reports.
If they can’t come up with the cash, the church will be sold on the open market.
Locals built the church in 1912, having worked tirelessly to raise the funds to build it.
The local council claims it did it’s best to keep the church open, but the Diocese of St Asaph were “unhelpful.”
After years of decline, dwindling congregation numbers were the final nail in the coffin.
A public meeting will be held on the 2nd and 3rd of July, with locals voting on the future of the church.
They could attempt to raise the money, sell the church or walk away entirely.
This is far from the first church forced to close it’s doors due to waning interest.
In Wales, it’s estimated churches are closing at a rate of one per week.
In neighbouring England, 400 C of E churches have closed in less than a decade.