Plans to demolish Grade Two listed Victorian Church in Truro

St Paul’s Church in Tregolls Road, Truro was built in the 1940s and closed to worshippers in 2008.

It faced two very challenging structural problems; subsidence, probably related to damage from a World War Two bomb that fell nearby, and crumbling stonework meaning that there was a risk to those using the building.

The church was built in the 1840s (Image: Truro Diocese)

A public notice has been printed this week and a public meeting organised by the Church Commissioners for November 7 for members of the public to hear more and ask questions.

Since 2008 the Diocese of Truro and the national Church of England say it has been exploring options that might give the building a new lease of life.

Several groups and individuals have been interested over the years but in each case closer examination of the two structural problems facing the church have meant that proposals have not been viable – even if the building were sold for a token amount.

The Diocese says it would have probably been possible to solve the subsidence problems. It was very expensive but technically possible.

The diocese says solving the subsidence problems, putting on a new roof, new heating and electrics would have cost upwards of £1million and presented lots of problems.

It said it had wanted to explore every possible avenue, even exploring one proposal to dismantle the church piece by piece and rebuild it elsewhere.

The damage inside the church is extensive (Image: Truro Diocese)

“However, it has now become clear there is not a solution to the stonework problem,” said a Diocese spokesperson.

“The ‘polyphant’ stone is de-laminating and the only remedy would be to replace it all; in effect demolish what is there and build a new tower and east end of the church from scratch with brand new stone.

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The scaffolding that can be seen from Tregolls Road is in place to allow inspection of the stonework, which is getting worse quickly now, and because they need to keep the road and footpath safe from falling stone.

The ‘polyphant’ stone is de-laminating (Image: Truro Diocese)

The diocese and the national church say it is sorry that such a well-loved and beautiful building has now coming to the end of its life.