Kent parish church saved from closure

St Thomas More's West Malling

A parish church in Kent threatened with closure has been saved from sale to developers after many people, including local Catholic MP Tom Tugendhat wrote letters, and more than 1,700 people signed a petition to Southwark Archbishop John Wilson, appealing for it to be kept.

Five days before Christmas, the community of St Thomas More's parish in West Malling, Kent, were shocked to receive a letter from Archbishop Wilson, informing them that their church, which was built in 1972, and the surrounding buildings, were going to be put up for sale in the Spring.

The property was being sold, because the 'Hermitage' on the site, a former bishop's residence and home to the parish priest, had suffered serious structural damage, which was too expensive for the diocese to repair. The church, together with other structurally- sound buildings, was going to be in the sales package as it was considered more economically viable to include it.

After parishioners expressed their concerns, the Archbishop reassured them that the diocese was not 'closing' the parish - but many people stated that if they lost the church, which was the 'heart' of their parish - the community would not survive.

After a meeting between Archbishop John, officers of the Diocese of Southwark and parish leaders, it was decided that the church and some land surrounding it would be retained by the parish. While there are still serious issues to discuss regarding other buildings on the site - which include a popular nursery in a recently-converted stables and the priest's accommodation - many parishioners were relieved at the news.

On Sunday, the following statement was published in the parish newsletter:

Open letter to Archbishop John Wilson and the Diocese of Southwark

On the 20th February 2020, Archbishop John Wilson and officers of the Diocese of Southwark, attended a meeting with members of the Parish Future Group of St. Thomas More Parish and Father Peter Soper, parish priest.

Firstly, we would like to acknowledge the issues and circumstances that led to the proposal to sell the site here at West Malling. This was the result of a regrettable breakdown and failure of communications within our parish.

At the meeting it was established and agreed that the church within its grounds would be retained by the parish. Further discussions are ongoing regarding The Hermitage, stable block and the remainder of the site.

We would like to publicly record our grateful thanks to the Archbishop and the diocese for the constructive manner in which they have approached this meeting.

We now look forward to building our community and working in collaboration with the diocese to our mutual benefit.

Yours sincerely,

For and on behalf of the Parish Future Group of St. Thomas More, West Malling.

LINKS

Kent parishioners offer alternative proposal to closure of their church - www.indcatholicnews.com/news/38884

Archdiocese of Southwark statement on Parish of St Thomas More, West Malling - www.indcatholicnews.com/news/38714

Kent parish fight to save their church from closure - www.indcatholicnews.com/news/38632

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

Watch: Kent online video report - www.kentonline.co.uk/malling/news/church-and-pre-school-go-up-for-sale-219198/