Burnley Express
17 August 2001
Historic Church To Be Demolished
By Linda Bloomfield
Historic Haggate Baptist Church is unsafe and members of the church - faced with an estimate of up to £200,000 for repairs, have voted to demolish it.
The decision was made after a thorough survey of the landmark chapel, opened in 1867, revealed the extent of roof spread, wall bulge, and wet and dry rot both upstairs and downstairs in the galleried building. Its demolition will change the face of Haggate forever.
Builders asked to tender said they would only guarantee their work for 10 years.
Said Mr. Michael Green, a deacon and trustee of the church: With old places like this there is every chance that builders could uncover more hidden faults as work progressed and before you know it an estimate of £200,000 shoots up to a quarter-of-a-million pounds. The work can only be guaranteed for 10 years, which means that young people in our congregation today could be facing the same kjind of heartache in another 15 years or so. It is a millstone we do not want to hang around their necks.
The church has made two outline planning applications to Burnley Council for permission to build three detached properties, a second group of three town houses and a new access road off Burnley Road. This willl also involve the demolition of the church institute.
It is planned to use the school building as the future church. Activities like badminton and the mums and toddlers' group will carry on there but part of the building will be set aside for worship. Money raised from the sale of land with planning permission will be used to resculpt the interior of the school for its new life.
Said Mr Green: "We had a meeting of the members and it was a unanimous decision to demolish. One of the greatest difficulties with this building is the weight of stone in the roof supported by walls that are not strong enough to bear it - hence the roof spread and the bulge. We knew there was some wet rot in the beams but once plaster was stripped off there was extensive evidence of dry rot.
"It was a difficult decision to make. Some members in their eighties were baptised at Haggate, went to the school and Sunday School, and it has been their church all their lives.. No-one wants to see this building demolished. It is the mother church for other local Baptist churches. At the end of the day we have to be realistic. We haven't got this sort of money for repairs and we do not want to saddle future congregations with the decisions we have had to make."
Church Minister Mr Philip Elson told us: "It was a very brave decision - one that members faced with heavy hearts because the church means so much to them."
The highbuilding can be seen from Blacko, from the top of Pendle Hill and from Walton Spire on the outskirts of Nelson.
It is hoped to find the pipe organ a new home.
Thanks to David Barker for obtaining this article from Burnley reference library for me.
_________________ Mel
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