A listed church building has ‘temporarily closed’ with doubts whether it will ever reopen after structural problems emerged.

St Paul’s in Astley Bridge, Bolton has been a focal point of the area since it opened in 1848.

However, the Church of England’s Diocese of Manchester has called a public meeting to discuss the building’s future and told worshippers future Sunday morning services will be held at St Paul’s School, Newnham Street, starting on Sunday, August 24.

Astley Bridge councillor, Hilary Fairclough said ‘St Paul’s Church is probably going to have to close permanently’ and cited costs for repairs could be more than £500,000 as ‘the steeple has structural problems’.

A statement from St Pauls’, said: “The church building is temporarily closed.

“There will be a public meeting a

See Full Page