We will not let church where Wolves were first formed be bulldozed, clergywoman vows

More than 1,000 people have signed an online petition to save St Luke's in Blakenhall which was formally closed last year but has not has not been used since 2009.

But today the Archdeacon of Walsall said that demolition has never been considered and that nationwide charity the Churches Conservation Trust is carrying out a feasibility study into future uses for the building.

The Venerable Dr Sue Weller said: "The aim is to find something that will work long-term.

"If anybody does have ideas we are interested. A steering committee has been formed and we ask them to get in touch with those on the committee.

"Future use is what we are looking for, demolition is not what we are talking about.

"It is possible that it will be sold on when a future use is found.

"It is very positive that there are people interested in the future of the building. We want them to feed their ideas through and change from being interested to being active."

The church in Upper Villiers Street is next to St Luke's School, the birth place of St Luke's FC which later became Wolverhampton Wanderers. It is said the club's founders Jack Brodie and Jack Baynton placed a notice on the church doors in 1877 inviting people interested in playing football to attend the meeting that started the club .

Last year, it was revealed that St Luke's is one of the top 10 endangered Victorian and Edwardian buildings in the UK. The repair bill is estimated to be around £1 million.

The vibrant red and yellow brickwork and towering spire of the church have been a landmark in the city since the 19th century.

Councillors, historians and the church have set up a steering committee to deal with the building.

Dr Weller said: "It was a parish church and started needing considerable amounts of work.

"The congregation started to raise money but was not able to raise the funds needed. And eventually they moved into the school next door.

"At the end of last it year it was formally closed and a process has started to find a new use.

"Nearly 30 people attended a meeting in January with local councillors, historic societies, and the church to meet together to think about what would happen next.

"The aim is to get a group of people interested in working out what to do.

"It has some damp inside but the structure of what is a very elaborate building is also in need of repair.

"A feasibility study is being completed by the Churches Conservation Trust which will look at the needs of the local community.

City historian Aaron Gill has since set up the online petition to rescue the building and has attracted more than 1,000 supporters.

He will be meeting with Dr Weller.

The gothic-style building has been dogged by structural problems. Parts of the tower and spire are unsafe, part of the brickwork has been damaged by cleaning, and the roof and floor have dry rot. The heating system has also failed. English Heritage offered a grant for part of the repairs but the parish was unable to secure match funding.

The petition can be found at you.38degrees.org.uk or you can contact the Diocese of Lichfield on 01922 707861.