Church graveyard to be turned into car-park?

Smallbridge residents are incensed over a planning application to the council to cover over an historic church graveyard and turn it into a car-park.

St John’s church on Halifax Road was opened in 1834 and is a Grade II listed building. It was designed by Lewis Vulliamy, a member of a local clock-making family, and was built at a cost of £3,253 (£270,000 at current prices). It has a floor area of 3,635 square feet.

The church has not been in use for some years and closed in 2010 it is currently listed for disposal by the Church of England Diocese of Manchester with an asking price of £120,000 - £200,000.

Plans before the council would involve the demolition of gravestones to the south west of the church, the covering over of graves and the demolition of part of the boundary wall. The removal of human remains is not mentioned in the application (number 12/26281/LBC). 

Jean Ashworth, a local community activist and former ward councillor, told Rochdale Online: “I really can't understand why church leaders would agree for graves to be tarmaced over and gravestones removed to build a 10 space car-park at the rear of the church.

“For years since the closure of the church I have written to the Diocese requesting that they gave the Church to the community in order to provide a community centre but sadly they never replied.

"I would like to know who would benefit from a car-park at the back of the church.”

We understand that a Heritage Assessment has been completed and, according to a council report, the Diocese has advertised and approached many interested parties such as community projects, playgroups, indooor sports and fitness centres, offices and other possible religious bodies. All say that they require adjacent vehicular access and parking for up to 10 cars.

We also understand that an application for ‘continuous religious use’ has been made to the Agent.

A spokesperson Diocese of Manchester said: "The proposed car park application relates to a portion of the graveyard to the south side of the Church that would have minimum impact on the Church yard and on the listed building itself. Most of the existing gravestones in this area are flush with the ground and are in varying states of repair."