Victorian church in Forest of Dean on market for £500,000

A historic church in the Forest of Dean which has been closed for five years is now up for sale for £500,000.

St John the Evangelist in Coleford was built between 1878 and 1880 to replace the town’s original church. The Grade II-listed Victorian building has been put on the market by Gloucester Diocese.

The church has been dogged with problems, closing in winter 2012 because it could not afford to pay its repair bills.

The Forester reports that the 137-year-old building was the subject of a ‘save it’ campaign organised by the Friends of St John’s Church, who claimed the church authorities’ £1.8 million estimate for the cost of essential repairs was exaggerated.

However, they lost the battle and St John the Evangelist formally closed as a place of worship in September last year.

Keen to secure the building’s legacy, the Diocese has put strict conditions on the sale of the Church to ensure its religious and architectural heritage is protected.

The estate agent handling the sale, Kevin Toombs, said interested parties must submit a business plan showing how the building would be given a sustainable future.

A successful buyer must also meet guidelines from the Prince’s Regeneration Trust and the Churches Conservation Trust. The final decision over the sale will be made by the Diocese of Gloucester and the Church Commissioners.

A spokesman for Gloucester Diocese told the Forester: “Following the formal closure of St John’s in autumn 2016, the Diocese of Gloucester and the Church Commissioners have instructed agents to market the building and its site, with a view to trying to find an appropriate new user.

“This forms part of the formal ‘use seeking period’ which we are required to carry out before a final sale can be progressed.

“We hope that a suitable person or group can be found who is willing to invest time and enthusiasm into this landmark building, to give it a sustainable, long-term future.”