CHURCH plans to sell off a historic parsonage in Abberley have caused outrage among villagers.

The Church of England is to sell the Old Parsonage, St Michael's Church, because it would cost too much to bring it up to acceptable security standards.

The Grade II listed house, which dates back to the 1500s and is built on the site of a Saxon rectory, has not been lived in by a priest since 1992.

Angry locals believe the parsonage should remain within the church and are fighting to preserve the symbol of history.

Church warden Muriel Nott is a strong objector to the plans and said: "Myself and others are working on one or two things to try and stop this, but I am not prepared to comment further at the moment."

The Rev Peter Heaps, who has looked after the parishes of Abberley and Shrawley since they were merged in 1992, said: "A lot of people are very upset the parsonage is going and I can understand that, it has been part of their lives for a very long time.

"However, it is a sign of the times. For example there is not a vicar for Abberley anymore. There used to be a vicar for Shrawley, Abberley, Astley and Witley, but now I cover all four."

The house is currently rented out to tenants unconnected to the church, who will be forced to leave when their six-month contract expires. Proceeds from the sale will be used to modernise the neighbouring vicarage in Shrawley and others in the diocese.

The diocesan parsonages committee, which overseas 170 such buildings in Worcestershire, said without a radical overhaul the parsonage would not conform to national security guidelines. They were laid down by the Church in recent years to protect the vicar and his or her family.

Committee chairman the Rev David Hassell said: "The issue of security is more important than ever after an increasing number of attacks.

"The clergy are vulnerable and anybody can come and knock on their door."