CHURCH commissioners for the Diocese of Truro have made a decision to demolish St Paul’s Church on Tregolls Road.

A prominent landmark on the eastern approach to the city, the church closed to regular worship in 2008 due to structural issues.

Diocesan representatives reported to the commissioners that all possibilities for an alternative use had been exhausted, and that demolition “would enable the site to be used for something useful for the city”.

A delegation of Church Commissioners convened in Truro on Friday, September 5 to hear views from various parties. These included Bishop Hugh Nelson, who spoke of the cost of lack of action and described the disused church as a “barrier to the church's mission”, while building restoration specialist Dan Edwards shared his hopes of rescuing and consolidating the tower.

Cllr Bert Biscoe said Truro City Council reluctantly accepted the case for demolition but wanted the site to continue to serve the growing population of the Tregolls-Moresk neighbourhood, preferably as a pastoral and recreational facility or housing.

By Tuesday, September 9, a decision had been made to approve demolition. A report from the Church Commissioners stated: “It does not appear to the Commissioners, after consultation with the Church Buildings Council, that the building is of such historic and archaeological interest or architectural quality that it ought to be preserved in the interests of the nation and the Church of England.”

Diocesan secretary Simon Cade thanked the residents of neighbouring Agar Road for their patience, adding: “Our next steps will be to engage with them to hear their thoughts about the future.

“We are sorry such a well-loved and beautiful building has now come to the end of its life. It is our preferred option to use the land for almshouses, but we are very much at the beginning of that work so cannot comment further at this point.”