RELIGIOUS leaders are under fire for refusing to allow another Christian group to buy a church and instead lining it up for housing.

St Jude’s Church in Maybush has not been used by Church of England worshippers for several years but has been leased to other groups and one of them, a Filipino group, had filed a bid to buy it.

However, the Diocese of Winchester rejected their bid, and is in negotiations with a church housing association to sell the site in Warren Avenue for housing for vulnerable and homeless people.

The Iglesia Ni Christo, or Church of Christ, which had leased the building for three years, put a bid in to buy it.

But the Bishop of Winchester, Tim Dakin, wrote back to the group, saying that Iglesia Ni Christo’s “doctrines and teachings are in some respects not compatible with the doctrine of the CoE”, while adding that selling it to another denomination could “cause confusion about the identity of the worshipping community using it”.

The Diocese says the local parish decided to seek permission to sell the church as it has not been used by the Diocese for several years.

The spokesman added: “Although Anglican churches may sometimes be shared by or sold to other Christian denominations, these denominations need to share the values and teaching of the Church of England, sharing our central Christian beliefs.

"All sales are agreed in accordance with relevant legislation.

“The church site will continue to be used to support the work of the Church of England. We are pleased that discussions are well advanced with a Church Housing Association – a local Christian charity that supports homeless and vulnerable people – to develop the site.

"Through this sale, St Jude’s will continue to be integral to the work of the Church in the local community.”

But the decision has been criticised by members of the community, with Maybush resident Sue Fletcher, who used to be a church warden at St Jude’s, said: “The church means a lot to people around here. They may not have attended it but that doesn’t mean they don’t love the church."

"“We have already got flats going up all around the place here and we can’t put up with any more.”

Dave Griffiths, who lives in Warren Avenue, said: “I think it’s very hypocritical of the CoE to not back another church group who wanted to purchase the church in favour of building houses."

“I have written to the Bishop relaying these thoughts to him. The site is steeped in the history of Shirley Warren and many residents would much rather a church than flats and houses.”

City councillor Don Thomas, who has been discussing the plans with the Diocese, pointed out that the Diocese of Birmingham had sold a church to Iglesia Ni Christo, saying: “The decision by the Bishop appears to be discriminating on grounds of religion which may very well be unlawful.”

A public meeting about the proposals takes place at 6.30pm tomorrow at the church in Warren Avenue. Iglesia Ni Christo declined to comment when approached by the Daily Echo.