18th June 2021

In January 2019, the PCC of Holy Trinity, Denby Dale, took the sad decision to temporarily close our doors for public worship, because the flat roof over the porch was leaking and rotten. We were particularly concerned because the boiler, which was also in need of replacement, is situated on top of the flat roof over the kitchen.  Estimates for replacing the heating system, repairing the roof, and remedial painting and decorating, were approximately £40,000, which the church does not have. Having been opened in 1939 for public worship, Holy Trinity is not listed, and therefore is unable to apply for Heritage grant funding. With other places of worship and community spaces in Denby Dale, and no proposals for community usage, we are also unable to access Community grant funding, which means that we have been unable to find funding that we would be eligible for.

This has led us to the difficult decision to petition for permanent closure of Holy Trinity, Denby Dale. We are now at the stage where the Church of England Church Commissioners are holding a 6-week public consultation on the proposal that Holy Trinity is closed.

We are inviting our friends, families, neighbours, business partners, community members, and brothers and sisters in faith, to make any comments on this proposal direct to the Church Commissioners. You can view the full draft scheme for closure and make comments, for or against the proposal here: view the proposal

Whatever happens, the Church is still here for you. As part of the new unified Parish of Cumberworth, Denby and Denby Dale, St Nicholas in Upper Cumberworth and St John the Evangelist in Upper Denby are available for Baptisms, Weddings, and Funerals, to comfort you in grief, and to celebrate with you in rejoicing. We continue to work for and with the people of Denby Dale, alongside our siblings in faith in Denby Dale Methodist Church and the Zion Wesleyan Reformed Chapel. We continually pray for you, and will continue to do so for many, many years to come.