A £15m property burden is estimated to be on the shoulders of the Catholic Diocese of Leeds.
It is made up of unsold churches,
schools and halls from all over the region as well as their maintenance
costs while they remain on the market.
But the organisation is
held back from a property firesale by their adherence to the Charity
Commission’s guidelines that state that any sales must be at the best
reasonable price in the circumstances.
John Grady, a spokesman for
the diocese, said: “The last thing he wants to do is leave buildings
just hanging around because the people will say, ‘Well nothing is
happening’.
“It is a worry because it is a problem we can’t just
shrug off, it is a constant topic of conversation between the trustees
of the diocese.”
The news follows years of consultations involving
clergy and the populace commissioned by the Rt Rev Arthur Roche, Bishop
of Leeds.
As a result closures and the amalgamation of parishes
have unfolded following the Providing
Priests for the People
Consultation, in 2004, which highlighted both a lack of clergy and
parishioners in certain areas.
Mr Grady said: “The last thing the
bishop wanted to do was audit and look at the state of property and then
come forward with this plan.
“He wants there to be more churches.”
Some of the properties are currently in use, several of which are at different stages in sale negotiations.
Mr
Grady added: “We have been pitched some ideas from organisations for
homeless people’s halfway houses or for those coming back from prison as
well as drop in centres.
“I would love to turn some of these things into reality but they must raise money first.”
St
Mary’s RC Church, in Shipley-Airedale Road, in Bradford, is one of the
larger assets of the diocese that is currently on sale.
He added: “We’re selling but no one’s got the money to buy at the moment, we’ve been selling for around the last 10 years.”