ANGRY campaigners against the closure of Ss Peter and Paul Church have accused their ruling Catholic Diocese of taking ten years’ worth of parishioners money and not spending it on vital works to the building. They have reported the diocese to the Charities Commission and are calling for an investigation into what has happened to the hundreds of thousands of pounds donated by parishioners through Gift Aid.
They claim that no routine maintenance works towards the upkeep of the iconic New Brighton building have taken place in the past ten years, accusing the clergy of allowing the church to fall into “a managed decline”.
Frank McGowan, chairman of the pressure group Save Our Unique Landmark, SOUL, said: “The Catholic church can claim income tax relief on any money donated through Gift Aid.
“For the past decade the money has been held in a bank account controlled by the Diocese of Shrewsbury. There must be approximately £350,000 sitting in it - all donated by parishioners.
“Yet nothing but the most essential repairs have been made on the building, ”
He said the group had funded their own repairs to guttering in a bid to stop the church from falling into serious disrepair.
The site is viewed as a prime piece of real estate and was under the threat of closure for months before its official closing date of August 17 was announced last month.
Parishioners are angry at what they see as a complete U-turn by the Diocese after receiving a letter from the Vatican in May saying that the Bishop, Brian Noble, had “no current plans” to close the church.
The Diocese insists the church is too expensive to maintain and upkeep.
Conservative New Brighton Ward councillor Tony Pritchard, who is campaigning for it to stay open, said: “The Catholic church are going to be surprised how far we are going to take this.”
William Palin, secretary of national campaign group Save Britain’s Heritage, visited the Ss Peter and Paul last week.
He said: “The building is absolutely fantastic and in very good condition, and what the Diocese has been doing is no less than shocking.
“The tragic thing is that the Diocese don’t seem to recognise the quality and importance of this building and I feel very strongly that there is no good reason to close other than pure greed.”
Parishioners will in future worship at Anglican All Saints church nearby.
The Diocese refused to comment.
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