Walsall church up for sale after holding its final service
A Grade II-listed church in Walsall is to be sold off just months after holding its last service.
St Michael and All Angels, in Caldmore, was built in 1870 and holds architectural and historical significance, according to the Diocese of Lichfield.
But after closing the church in June due to the falling number of parishioners, the diocese has applied to dispose of the church.
A spokesman for the diocese said: “St Michael and All Angels in Caldmore parish officially closed on 1 June.
“A small number of Anglican churches are closed each year when they are no longer needed for worship.
"On these occasions, a suitable alternative use is normally sought which could include the building continuing to be used by another Christian organisation as a place of worship.
“Negotiations are ongoing to sell the building to a suitable interested party.”
The church served the parish of Caldmore and Palfrey.
The spokesman added: “There are two other Anglican churches in Caldmore – St Matthew’s and St Gabriel’s – which are open for local people.”
Ward Councillor Aftab Nawaz said: “It was a sad day for Caldmore when the church closed for worship. It is part of the area’s history, people have grown up and become used to having it open. I hope it stays open to the community somehow.”
According to Historic England, the church was built in an ‘early English style’ in 1870 by architect J R Veall, from Wolverhampton.
Although declared for religious use in 1871, the church was built in phases and was fully complete by 1896.
A fire caused severe damage in 1964 and it underwent restoration.
The large church has a five-bay aisled nave, vestry, chapel, toilets and a small graveyard.
In an application to dispose of the building, the diocese said: "St Michael's was closed for regular public worship as the small number of parishioners, many of whom lived outside the parish, no longer had the resources to manage the building."
Other churches in the region to get a new lease of life include St Pauls Church, in Darwall Street, in Walsall.
Now called The Crossing at St Pauls, the ground floor has been changed to provide seven retail units.
A day chapel is still open from Monday to Friday for private prayer and reflection.
