Church may be bulldozed

Elders are holding talks on the future of Shelley Road United Reformed Church and a report is expected in the spring.

It seems likely it will close just short of its 100th anniversary while its sister church, St Columba's, will be revamped.

Neil MacMahon, spokesman for the URC, said: "People don't like to think of their church being closed or altered. My understanding is that Shelley Road has accepted the position with regret."

The church has a congregation of just under 100, while St Columba's, in St Michael's Road, Heene, has about 130, many of them elderly.

Mr MacMahon said a report would be available in the spring, which could recommend the demolition of Shelley Road church, a prime town centre site commanding a high price if planning permission for housing was obtained.

Major changes, possibly financed by the sale of Shelley Road, could follow at St Columba's, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

Mr MacMahon said: "If Shelley Road is not going to be used as a church it could be argued that it is no use as a building and could be redeveloped. That is one of the options being looked at.

"The proposals also suggest significant alterations to St Columba's to provide more facilities for community work.

"There would be a certain amount of redevelopment on that site. Possibly the hall facing Heene Road might be turned into a more modern, smaller church."

He said there were also financial considerations relating to the day-to-day running of two buildings with falling congregations.

There were just two full-time ministers and one part-time minister to cover five churches in the local URC circuit: Shelley Road, St Columba's, Goring, Sompting and St Andrew's, Rustington.

James Appleton, development control manager at the borough council, said he was unaware of discussions.

He said neither church was listed but St Columba's was in the Heene conservation area, which places restrictions on development.