All Saints’ Church, on Fambridge Road, South Fambridge, has been at the centre of a campaign by parishioners and residents since October when they were told it could close over declining numbers and the need for costly repairs.
While the diocese assured residents a “range of possibilities” are being considered, members of the Save Our All Saints Church group have taken the matter into their own hands.
Since the news, they have spent countless hours tidying the church grounds and helping boost numbers at services as well as planning community events at the 178-year-old church.
Campaign leader, Hannah Harmsworth, is set to meet the Archdeacon of the diocese today to discuss potential solutions and has put out a final desperate plea to save the building.
Working on the grounds – Hannah Harmsworth (Image: Hannah Harmsworth)
The 31-year-old said: “We almost feel it is too late and we are pleading for understanding from the diocese.
“We want to get together and have the conversation about how to save the church.
“We have become really involved in it and looking after the churchyard as a place of worship. We admit that we need more numbers but that has woken us up.
“We have tried to prove that we care, we would do anything we could to help and we have spoken to people in town, leafleted and contacted the diocese to raise awareness.
“A lot of my family are there, my nan is one of the closest graves to the church building and if no one monitors the structure, what if it falls and damages it? We don’t want to let it get to the point where it is too late, All-Saints Church means so many things to so many people.”
Sunday service – A private service at All Saints Church (Image: Hannah Harmsworth)
Hannah claims that since the group has been consistently involved, the Sunday service numbers have ballooned from single digits to double digits.
She added: “We have been there a lot, though there are some days I cannot make.
“We have kept numbers up and tried to push the word out. The age range now at the church is from 16 to 70 years old, we have successfully pushed it on Facebook as well.”
A spokesperson for the Diocese of Chelmsford said: “A representative from the Diocese of Chelmsford is meeting with a group of people from the community about All Saints Church today. We will be able to provide a further update after this meeting has taken place. We can reassure the community that whatever happens in the future, people will still be able to visit loved one’s graves as they do now, and the churchyard will remain open for future burials.”