THE cost of demolishing an iconic church at the heart of Ronkswood could be up to £40,000, a public meeting was told.

Reverend Fran Binding told the meeting at Perrywood Primary School that it would be a long journey before a permanent solution was found for St Michael’s Church known as “The Drum”.

If it were to be demolished, the work would be paid for by a loan from the diocese which would not have to be paid back for ten years after which there would be a sliding scale of interest added.

The church has been closed since December after part of the ceiling fell down and the Parochial Church Council announced it had “come to the end of its useful and sustainable working life”.

Over 60 people gathered at the school last night to have their say about the future of the church which was built in the 1960s.

The building has been plagued by boiler failures, condensation and leaks.

Many nodded in agreement when Christine Parsons, of Wakefield Close, who said she felt the church had to come down.

The 70-year-old, whose daughter Claire was baptised there, said: “I think there are such strong memories of the church in our community but there is nothing we can do about the state it is in.

“I think a new building would be wonderful, I have this feeling in my heart.”

Revd Binding told the meeting the church’s income was normally about £40,000 but last year had been £53,022 which included £13,000 in grants and gifts.

An Asset Management Plan was carried out and found it would cost around £62,589 per year to keep the church running.

She said: “It doesn’t take a genius to realise we fall way short of that.

“And we don’t waste money, we have to think about everything we spend on and have survived so far by cutting back.”

She explained that attempts to rent the building out to community groups was impossible because of problems with the heating and health and safety.

“We had an orchestra who wanted to meet there. They held three sessions and said the heating wasn’t adequate to keep their fingers going.

“Sure Start came to look at the church and said the health and safety issues were far too great.”

Ven Roger Morris, archdeacon of Worcester, said: “This is a church that has taken care of its assets, it isn’t a church that has just woken up to its faults but has been addressing them and it really is a very difficult one.

“The building does not generate its own income, it can’t be rented out to other community groups.”

Marian Bailey, former churchwarden, paid tribute to Revd Binding’s efforts to keep the church running.

The congregation has grown since services have been held at Lincoln Green, the Punchbowl and Chelmsford Court with Messy Church at Perry Wood School.

“Fran has worked very hard to keep the church going and it is her good work in the community which has meant we have been able to continue meeting.

“I don’t think we realise the tremendous effort that has gone into that.”