Ashingdon residents fear All Saints Church 'could be closed'

According to residents, All Saints Church, in Fambridge Road, Ashingdon, could be closed by the Chelmsford Diocese due to “structural issues”.

Campaigners believe the reasons include a declining attendance to church services as well as the cost of structural upkeep of the church, built in 1846, which has faced issues with cracks in the wall.

Despite the issues, campaigners want to save the church and ultimately preserve the churchyard, where many members of the South Fambridge community are buried.

Protect her memory - Jimmy Gunn with his daughter Angie at his wife’s grave (Image: Doodleshots Photography) 

The Diocese of Chelmsford has confirmed a review is taking place over the future of the church but reassured residents they would still be able to visit their loved ones’ graves.

Campaigner Hannah Harmsworth’s great-grandparents and grandmother are buried at the church – with her grandad owning a plot there to be buried alongside her.

The 31-year-old claims any potential closure has not been communicated to residents and worries that she may not be able to pay respect to her buried family members.

She said: “My great grandparents are there. My grandad has bought a plot there as well.

“Someone has told me that if the church building won’t be open, we can attend the land and someone else has told me that the building is too dangerous and if it falls apart, will the churchyard be shut off?

“It could come to that. If the building is dangerous and part of it comes down, my grandmother’s headstone is next to it, there is just no certainty.

“That is the issue. My grandad and others have bought plots there and were not informed.

“We’ve had no warning, and we do not know what the future holds.

“If my grandad cannot get buried there with my nan, I would lose it, but this is not the point of no return, it is a beautiful church, nothing fancy, but it means something to the village and the community and the families of those buried there.”

A place to remember them at - Kim Gunn with her mum Sue Gunn at family graves (Image: Doodleshots Photography)

A spokesman for the Diocese of Chelmsford said: “All Saints Church in South Fambridge works closely with other churches in the local area to serve the local community. In recent years it has faced significant financial challenges including costly structural issues.

“Earlier this year representations were invited from the local community about whether the church should remain open for public worship or whether it should close for this purpose.

“This would mean the community would continue to be served by other churches in the local area. No decision has yet been taken.

Solace - Emma Nicholls at her Grandmother and Father's grave (Image: Doodleshots Photgraphy)Remembrance - Roy and Jimmy Gunn at their parent's grave (Image: Doodleshots Photography)

“The church has endeavoured to communicate well through this process including by displaying posters around the church grounds.

“We are sorry if some of those communications have not been seen and the church will continue to work hard to communicate going forward.

“We can reassure the local community that whatever the outcome, people will still be able to visit loved ones’ graves as they do now.”