Crisis – Old Church Sell-offs

In previous generations many Christians and their families sacrificially gave money in order to build churches for their local communities. Many had clauses in their title deeds that the building was for the glory of God and the advancement of his kingdom. However then numbers attending collapsed and the buildings became redundant.

The tragedy is that those responsible for the disposal of the property have too often forgotten that the building was originally built for kingdom purposes and not for the financial gain of those holding the deeds. It is surely incumbent on bishops, diocesan authorities, vicars, PCC’s, ministers, church elders and trustees to ensure that the gospel wishes of those who originally paid for the building have precedence over all other issues. How can this building, of which the present trustees are really tenants, be best used for the Lord and the proclamation of his gospel? The ambition of the original investors should have precedence over all other claims.

Unless those who understand the priority of gospel ministry above denominational and other differences stand up and make these gospel priorities abundantly clear, many more such valuable properties will be lost for gospel ends for ever. There will be times when no gospel use can be found for a building, in which case any profit should surely be re-invested in other Christian work. How can such valuable assets be sold off to the highest bidder, to property developers, for mosques or other religious groups – is that not sacrilege?