Birch Church, Colchester

The Grade II-listed St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Birch, Colchester, has stood empty for 32 years and fallen into disrepair. When the Diocese of Chelmsford said it couldn’t find a suitable alternative use, the Church Commissioners earmarked the structure, with its unique stone tower and spire, for demolition. The spire, which can be seen for miles around southwest Colchester, is likely to disappear from the landscape along with the rest of the building.

North Essex Heritage, backed by The Victorian Society, the Ancient Monuments Society and English Heritage, had been campaigning for years to save the church when a potential buyer was identified in 2013. Colchester Borough Council granted planning permission and listed building consent for the project in 2020. The buyer later pulled out of the conversion project, citing the church authorities’ repeated delays which have left the 171-year-old building continuing to deteriorate. He said there had been a serious deterioration in the condition of the building. The additional remedial and building work, together with increased costs of materials, has sent the estimate for the project spiralling.

Simon Hall MBE DL, Chair of North Essex Heritage, said:

“There is no way of knowing how many more years this could have dragged on before the Church Commissioners agreed the sale, or what unrealistic conditions would have been imposed. The Trust will be seeking an early meeting with Colchester Borough Council and the Church authorities to discuss the church’s future.”

“The Trust’s only hope now is that another buyer is willing to take on the project with its existing permissions. We hope at the very least, that because of its exceptional importance in the landscape, the rare and magnificent church spire can be saved if the rest of the building is demolished.”

North Essex Heritage has carried out a viability study into possible uses of the church, which was designed by Samuel Sanders Teulon. Built in 1850, it replaced an earlier building and is a landmark and a key building in Birch Conservation Area.

In 2015 a planning inquiry was ordered by the Secretary of State because of local opposition to the Church’s plan to demolish the building. Preliminary meetings were held, but the full hearing didn’t go ahead.

Recently a local group, Save Our Spire, has taken up the campaign to save the church.