Losing our religion? Churches closing doors across Cumbria

Office for National Statistics data from the 2021 census shows 53 per cent of people in Carlisle selected Christianity as their religion, down significantly from 69 per cent in the last survey a decade before.

Many of the churches have been put on the market as they've fallen into a position of no longer being 'financially viable'. 

Most recently, Waverton's Christ Church, near Wigton, has been listed on the market with a guide price of £125,000. 

Since 2001, a total of 15 churches have closed with the potential of eleven more following suit over the past five years, evidence that the Church of England is not exempt from graces when it comes to the pandemic and the cost-of-living.

READ MORE: Church up for sale was 'no longer financially viable'

Some churches have even had to adopt innovative practices in order to keep doors open. 

One of which is Christ Church, in Cockermouth, who have implemented a 'highly transferable' way of keeping the congregation and community groups warm but also to reduce the drastic blow of an estimated £12,000 in bills due to the energy crisis. 

Christ Church worship under thermal tent (Image: Supplied)

They have erected a thermal tent over the balcony to reduce the room's ceiling size, ultimately keeping the space warmer and more comfortable for those worshipping. 

As a result, the church hopes to save around £4,000 on heating bills. 

A spokesperson from the Diocese of Carlisle said: "The Diocese of Carlisle – the Church of England in Cumbria – places great value on our church buildings and gives thanks for the Christian beacons of hope they represent in scores of our communities.

"They complement Cumbria’s much-valued and rich history and in many instances are places where people have congregated for worship for hundreds of years.

"We very much appreciate all the faithful work that takes place each week at parish level to maintain and upkeep the buildings.

"Across the Diocese there are currently 324 Anglican churches open for worship. Since the start of 2018, six churches have closed and currently seven more are proposed for closure, in a process which is subject to detailed public consultation and is overseen by the Church Commissioners.

"Since 2001 a total of 15 churches have closed.

"Whilst we celebrate the rich diversity of our church buildings, the Diocese also appreciates the not inconsiderable pressures they can place on congregations both in terms of time and money.

"Those pressures have been further heightened due to the financial impact that the Covid pandemic has had on our worshipping communities and the understanding that congregation numbers have fallen in some areas in comparison to pre-pandemic levels.

"As England’s first ecumenical county we are committed to working alongside our partner denominations – the Methodist Church, United Reformed Church and the Salvation Army – in the roll out of our joint God for All vision and strategy.

"A component part of that is a Buildings Strategy which has the overall aim of ensuring we have the right number of fit-for-purpose buildings in the right locations.

"As part of that we are committed to engaging with all of our 34 mission communities – groupings of mutually supportive and mission-minded churches which have been created across Cumbria – to help and support them as they develop local building plans for the future," they said. 

Of the seven churches currently proposed for closure, five have yet to go through public consultation. However, two are in the public consultation stage, both Brougham, St Wilfrid and Middleton's Holy Ghost. 

The churches that have closed since 2018 are Waverton Christ Church; Broughton Moor St Columba; Rampside St Michael; Blawith Old Church; Lindale St Paul and Carlisle's Holy Trinity. 

READ MORE: Fewer residents of Carlisle identify as Christian, according to census