The sale is being managed by Maillard & Co through an informal tender process, with the estate agents offering “potential for development or to create a residential/commercial mixed-use, subject to planning approval”.
Pictured: Maillard & Co are offering the church with “potential for development or to create a residential/commercial mixed-use”.
Interested parties are being invited to submit their offers in a sealed envelope before Friday 24 November.
History of the church
The church, previously overseen by external heritage advisers, All Saints Church, saw a decline in regular attendance over recent years, leading to the discontinuation of regular services.
As a result, the building has only been sporadically used to host occasional events, such as the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday and some Christmas services, with the building left empty for extended periods.
Pictured: The foundation stone of ‘the Parish Church of Saint Simon’ was laid in 1865.
The Parish Church of Saint Simon – constructed in 1865 and opened in 1866 – once had a dedicated congregation, especially among sailors who frequented the area, as nearby streets were home to many fishermen’s cottages.
Features of the church
The church boasts unique features, including a historic Church organ set into the wall and inscriptions commemorating past Vicars.
It is made of granite and Caen stone, and decorated in the Early English style.
It also has one of the few stained glass pictures of Charles I in the British Isles, as well as stained glass depictions of the stations of the cross, and the life of Christ, embellished with the names of local contributors.
Pictured: The former church has deteriorated, with damp all around the building and up the pillars.
The church’s interior includes the high altar, choir stalls, and a war memorial crucifix from 1919.
However, signs of disuse are apparent, with wear and tear on the building, falling debris from the roof, dampness all around the building and up the pillars, and chipping paint and plaster. The exterior has rusted gates and fixtures coming loose from the wall.
Restoration ideas
Efforts were made to repurpose the church and its adjacent hall as a support facility for recently released prisoners, providing them with housing and a community centre for developing skills acquired in prison.
However, the plan was ultimately abandoned due to the building’s listed status and varying opinions from heritage advisers.
Pictured: The church has one of the few stained glass pictures of Charles I in the British Isles.
In response to Maillard & Co’s Facebook post advertising the sale of the property, islanders suggested it could make “a beautiful home”, “a good auction room” or an “ideal town youth club”.