Express & Star

Beyond repair: Historic church to shut after 129 years

A landmark Hednesford church built in the 1800s will close its doors for the final time after it was declared ‘beyond repair’.

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The Church of St Saviours in High Mount Street

The Church of St Saviours in High Mount Street was once at the heart of Hednesford’s mining community but its congregation has now dwindled to around a dozen.

The closure was first talked mooted last summer, and the final service will be held on Sunday. Reverend Paul Kelly said: “This Sunday marks the end of an era as our church closes its doors for the final time.

“The church began life as a mining mission church on April 4, 1888. Then known as Green Heath Mission Church, it became the centre of the expanding mining community in this part of Hednesford.

“It has hosted its own football teams, which were very successful in the 1950s and 60s, and its youth club saw many couples meet and later marry.

“Sadly in recent years the congregation has declined and the building has shown signs of its age and is beyond repair.”

On Sunday at 10.30am The Bishop of Wolverhampton, The Right Reverend Clive Gregory, will be conducting the final act of worship at the church – a Thanksgiving Service. It will be followed by lunch at nearby West Hill School.

Rev Kelly added: “It will be emotional occasion. There will be a mixture of feelings – there will be those who have been a part of the congregation for a number of years, as well as others who have some connection to the church.

“But they have been prepared for this for over a year now, they knew what was coming. The building is crumbling and also it is very impractical. It has come to the end of its life.

“We are hoping to start a new ministry at the school next year, which will be a completely different type of church.”

“We wanted to keep serving the area.”