Ashingdon parishioners fight to save All Saints Church

All Saints Church in Fambridge Road, Ashingdon, could be closed by the Chelmsford Diocese due to “costly structural works” and declining numbers attending Sunday services.

However, a campaign has been launched to save the church, with residents arguing that the church still matters to members of the community whose relatives are buried there. 

At work - Aisha Gunn (Image: Hannah Harmsworth)

Campaigner, Hannah Harmsworth, whose great-grandparents and grandmother are buried at the church, has reached out to the Chelmsford Diocese and to the church’s council to look into the possibility of allowing residents to run the church and community events. 

Members of the community have already been carrying out clean-up events to help the appearance of the churhc grounds.

Watering - Angela Gunn watering the newly planted flowers (Image: Hannah Harmsworth)

Hannah said: “We want the chance and the opportunity and if this fails after six months, we can say we did what we could to keep services, and the churchyard maintained.

“We put our money where our mouth is, we have done so much down there in terms of maintenance and the congregation, they are free and bring in a pittance for the church but after just one session, we went down there with ten people and raised £70.

“It is a small and quaint church with so much heritage and it is such a shame, what will happen if the church closes? Who will maintain it, the building would be shut and put up for sale.”

Community - Sue Gunn, Beth Wessell and Angela Gunn (Image: Hannah Harmsworth)

 Hannah believes the group can think outside the box by taking over certain aspects and running coffee morning and similar events if the diocese remains in control of the church. 

She added: “If a cake sale is done and raises £500, why have we never had one done at the church before.

“If we knew soon it was in this much of a state we would have come forward sooner.”

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Chelmsford said: “A range of possibilities remain on the table for the future of All Saints Church in South Fambridge.

 “We can reassure the local community that whatever happens in the future, people will still be able to visit loved one’s graves as they do now, and the churchyard will remain open for future burials.”