The Lostock Community Group is investigating ways to ensure the rich local heritage value of St John's Anglican Church and cemetery is not lost for future generations.
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In August the Anglican Diocese advised the community the cost of maintaining and insuring St John’s was too high and the buildings would be sold.
On Saturday, October 20, a service was held to de-consecrate the church which has not been used for regular worship for some years.
The Lostock Community Group has been in discussion with the Anglican Diocese on how to best protect the ancestral heritage connected to the site and for it to continue to be a part of the village’s landscape.
The Anglican diocese had indicated it would consider gifting the church and cemetery to a community group if they formed an incorporated body and prove commitment to insuring, maintaining and upkeep of the church and cemetery.
“The expectation that the community would take on a graveyard is a bit much,” said Elliot Holland from the group.
This was seen as an unreasonable expectation due to the management obligations and requirements of the Cemeteries and Crematoria Act 2013.
“To accept this aspect of the offer, the Lostock Community Group would be committing grandchildren and future generations to management obligations, due to the requirement to manage cemeteries for 60 years after the last burial.”
Mr Holland said the Lostock Community Group was investigating becoming incorporated and would be interested in negotiating a fixed period lease agreement with the diocese for the church. He said in that time the group could investigate funding options and ways to increase use of the church and hall to cover insurance and maintenance, demonstrating it could be cost neutral.
The group’s next meeting is on Saturday, November 17 at 2.00 pm.