Historic Herefordshire Church Added to At-Risk Register

Historic England has designated a Grade II-listed church in Herefordshire, which is in decline, as “at risk.” According to the government body, St Silas church, located in Bollingham near Kington and thought to originate from the 12th or 13th century, is currently in a state of disrepair. The structure is draped in tarpaulin to safeguard its sandstone roofing slates, while internal netting has been installed to intercept plaster detaching from the roof lining. With this inclusion on the Heritage At Risk register, the total count of churches or former churches in the county deemed at risk now stands at 23. In 2022, the property was listed for sale at £45,000. Estate agents Sutherlands stated it was “available for continued church use,” noting that other commercial applications would be “subject to obtaining satisfactory planning consent.” Earlier this year, the Church of England initiated consultations regarding proposals for the site “to be sold for preservation as a monument and holiday accommodation.” The register also identifies other churches, such as the prominent St Peter’s Church in central Hereford, which is characterized as being at “immediate risk of further rapid deterioration or loss of fabric” because of a leaking roof requiring “urgent renewal.” Nevertheless, the register indicated that “no solution agreed” had been reached with the church to address this issue. Currently, over 4,800 locations throughout England are designated as being susceptible to neglect, decay, or unsuitable development, a figure that encompasses approximately 1,000 churches. The Local Democracy Reporting Service, which reports on councils and other public service organizations, compiled this information. For updates, follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.