Campaign against church plans is launched

Members of the Campaign to Save St Mary's Church group have organised a public meeting in the town on May 9 in opposition to the church's re-ordering proposals.

Church leaders put on view outline proposals to alter the church's interior to accommodate worship and increase availability to the wider community.

They propose scrapping the church's 168-year-old Victorian pews and replacing them with modern adaptable seating.

Campaign group organiser and St Mary's Church choir member Lois Elford said: "A makeover of this magnitude would need to have the majority support of the local community as well as the church congregation.

"It will be interesting to see whether the church can justify this architectural atrocity to Thornbury residents.

"Quite apart from the cosmetic changes many residents deeply object to the idea of making the church available for community lettings.

"People are also asking whether Thornbury really needs another community centre."

The group is to launch a community petition at the meeting to challenge the diocese plans.

Lois said: "Many see taking the pews out as the start of a slippery slope. So the only effective way to challenge these proposals is through a petition.

"Petitions have held sway with diocesan bodies in other parts of the country.

"We hope that many will be encouraged to exercise their citizen's prerogative and reject these uncalled for proposals."

Rev Craig Bishop, of St Mary's Church, emphasised the plans were at an early stage and welcomed any comments.

He said he would be going along to the meeting to hear people's views on the plans.

He said: "The church at the moment is in a period of consultation and welcomes people's comments.

"I would encourage people to share their hopes and fears with us over the re-ordering plans for the church."

The meeting will be at the Chantry in Thornbury on Friday, May 9 (7.30pm).

Re-ordering plans for the church can be seen at www.thornburyparish.org.