Parishioners have attacked plans to close their church although they spent £250,000 on restoring it.

St Barnabus Church, in Sackville Road, Hove, is one of ten across Brighton and Hove earmarked for closure in a cost-cutting drive.

The congregation raised the money for restoration over the past five years by holding fetes, recycling Christmas and birthday cards and holding raffles.

Church curate Father Trevor MacDonald donated £80,000 of his own money towards the project, which included replacing the roof and redecorating.

However, the Church of England says there are too few people in the congregation and has recommended St Barnabus should close.

Church organist Graham Shaw, secretary of the parochial church council, said the congregation had raised the money for the renovation on the understanding the church would not be closed.

He said: "The word for what they are doing is destruction. We have a strong community here and it is a good place. If they destroy it, that is evil.

"People are not going to start renovations for something that has no future.

"There is no mention of what they envisage doing with this building."

Rosalind Grant, of Walsingham Road, said: "It is a betrayal. We worked so hard to raise this money.

"I was baptised at St Barnabas in 1975. My children go there and it is my spiritual home. I just can't believe this place of worship could close."

Theresa Collyer, of Ranelagh Villas, has been going to the church for the past eight years. She said: "Everybody in the congregation puts 100 per cent into the place because they want to keep it running.

"The Church of England's decision is a betrayal and it is worse because we are being betrayed by our own church leaders, who are supposed to be on our side."

The Church of England's report said: "The building has recently had significant sums spent upon it and this does lift the immediate need for substantial repair.

However, the parsonage property which is built into the church is not suitable."

It said the church received a subsidy of £24,000 in 2003, which worked out at £9 a week for each member of the congregation.

The report said: "This church seems more intent on maintaining its tradition and its building and has displayed few signs of growth."