Kent parish fights to save their church from closure

St Thomas More Church

Five days before Christmas, the community of St Thomas More's parish in West Malling, Kent, were shocked to receive a letter from Archbishop John Wilson, informing them that their church and the surrounding buildings are going to be put up for sale in the Spring.

Bishop John explained that because there were structural problems with other buildings on the site (a nursery and the priest's house) - that would be too costly to repair - it had been decided to include the church (which was built in 1972, and is in good condition) in the sale. "offering the whole site for sale will ensure maximum flexibility in any potential transfer," he explained.

The day the letter arrived, parishioner Stephanie Boden set up a petition to Archbishop Wilson appealing for the church to be saved. While accepting that the other buildings on the site require too much much work and are not financially viable, she said the church is sound and "the hub of a thriving local Catholic community."

She writes: "It has been the heart of our parish for 50 years and is closely linked to More Park Catholic Primary School, which is on the same site. The school and church have always depended on each other. Parishioners send their children to the pre-school and school and these children, in turn, become the next generation of parishioners. Without the church, the cycle will be broken.

"We understand that the parish is the community and not the building, but surely nobody believes that it can move forward and continue to thrive in makeshift halls. We fear that the Catholic parish of St Thomas More will fizzle out leaving hundreds of Catholic families without a place to worship."

The petition has already received over 1,500 signatures and dozens of comments from concerned parishioners.

Many complain that the decision to sell the property was made without a public consultation.

"It was shocking to get this news just before Christmas" one parishioner told ICN. "We've spent years building up this parish."

Chantal Ekeuh writes: "St Thomas More is more than my Parish, it is my home. My family and myself moved in the area 4 years ago and went to Mass at St Thomas More 2 days after we moved in. As soon as I stepped inside I felt at peace, I felt at home. St Thomas More is where my daughter had her first Holy Communion together with lots of other children. It is where my children go to youth group and organise their activities with other young people. It is where we come together as a community, our church family. Although I understand the need and necessity to do something about part of the estate, there is no need to touch our church and the pre-school there are both the heart of our community."

Another parishioner writes: "I was one of the first pupils at More Park and watched our church being built. I had my Holy Communion here, got married and christened my 3 boys here. I cannot imagine not ever having this church in our lives anymore as it holds a special place in my heart."

Parish priest Fr Peter Soper, wrote in a statement: "The news that the Diocese intends to make St Thomas More Church, the Thomas of Canterbury Centre, and Pre-School and the Priest's House available for sale this coming Spring have been a devastating blow for us.

The Church is the centre of our parish and means so much to us. The St Thomas of Canterbury Centre and Pre School is the result of many years of work, giving and sacrifice to convert the stable block to a really good facility. And the house has many memories especially for myself as parish priest here for the last 20 years.

While many of us accept that the House, with all its problems and the massive cost of repairs and the Centre and Pre School which is an integral part of the property have to go, we have strong feelings that the church should not be sold as it is so much the centre of our community."

He said: "It is right that we should be able to express our genuine sadness, anger and feelings about this - which I myself feel very much. But we now need to look at this calmly and practically if we are to find the true way ahead."

The parish are meeting later this week to discuss practical suggestions and prepare a statement to the Archdiocese of Southwark explaining why they feel the church must be kept on.

Fr Peter said: "We are a strong community and I thank those who have and are making it so. We are not afraid to take this on and work out the right way ahead - and become even stronger through this."

We ask for your prayers and support."

No one from the Archdiocese of Southwark has been available to comment.

See the petition here:

www.change.org/p/the-most-rev-john-wilson-archbishop-of-southwark-save-st-thomas-more-catholic-church-in-west-malling