A bitter battle has erupted over the fate of an abandoned church after a local businessman submitted plans to convert the Grade II listed building into a mosque.
The historic St John the Evangelist Church in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, has not been used as a place of worship since the tower was declared unsafe in the 1980s and now faces an uncertain future.
The building, which dates back to 1788, was last used as an antiques center and café, but the pandemic forced it to close its doors again in 2020.
However, there is one man who is willing to restore the church, but only on the condition that it becomes a mosque. Last year it was bought for £140,000 by the Darul Falah Mosque, a community company run by Zabihullah Zamir.
Last month the Church Commissioner blocked the plan – and although the Church of England has sold the building, there is a covenant preventing it from becoming a place of worship for any other religion.
The historic St. John the Evangelist Church in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, has not been used for worship since the tower was declared unsafe in the 1980s and now faces an uncertain future
In another twist, Stoke-on-Trent City Council approved the plans in August before they were vetoed by the CofE, raising new questions about the future of Britain’s abandoned churches. The Telegraph reports.
Thousands of disused churches have closed in the past decade, and many sold by the CofE have gone on to become houses, apartments, shops, restaurants or community centres.
It comes amid a fall in the number of Christians in England and Wales, with the latest census showing the number of Britons who said they were Christians falling below 50 percent for the first time to 46.2 percent.
This was a decline of 13 percent in ten years and a large drop from 72 percent in 2001.
At the same time, the number of Muslims in England and Wales is rising, with a 2021 census showing 6.5 percent as Muslim, up from 4.9 percent in 2011.
The proposed conversion of a church to a mosque on Hanley’s Town Road has sparked tensions, with the building becoming a target for vandalism.
Outside it is littered with broken bottles and the historic stained glass windows are boarded up. There are also security guards parked outside.
Residents are divided over the proposals, with one telling The Telegraph: ‘It’s a nice building that’s just been left vacant, so get it put back into use, I’d say. There’s no animosity.’
Stoke-on-Trent City Council approved the plans in August before they were vetoed by the CofE, raising new questions about the future of Britain’s abandoned churches
But others in Hanley are objecting to the plans, with one saying: ‘Far too many churches are being taken away.’
Another revealed that his grandparents got married in the church and it not being used as a church anymore “just seems so wrong.”
A spokesperson for the church commissioner said: ‘We support the use of former churches for community purposes, but a restrictive covenant prohibits the use of the building as a place of worship other than as a church.’
The former church was at the center of the violent disorder that rocked Hanley last month when two groups of protesters clashed in Town Road.
The disorder came as riots and anti-immigration riots swept Britain following the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport in July. The unrest was sparked by false rumors online that the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker.
There was also misinformation about the church project, with some accusing the new owners of desecrating the cemetery and damaging and removing headstones.
A video circulated on social media showing piles of gravestones, some damaged, as work was carried out at the site.
But council officials found ‘no evidence’ that graves were disturbed.
A spokesperson said at the time: “We are aware of the video which has recently resurfaced on social media and appears to date from September 2023. The concerns expressed in this video are historic.
‘Officers visited the site and found no evidence of further works being carried out or of any public health or safety concerns. It should be noted that St. John’s Church ceased operations in 1985 and has since had a purpose other than as a place of worship.
‘Although it is likely that there are graves in the area around the church, there is no evidence that they have been disturbed.
‘If illegal activity is identified, including unauthorized use of the building, we will ensure that appropriate action is taken.’
Speaking about the church’s conversion, Mr Zamir told The Telegraph: ‘We believe the transformation of this historic building into a vibrant community center will bring enormous benefits to the local area.
“Both sides agree that the current state of the church – a once sacred space that has stood empty and unused for far too long – deserves better.”