Council shells out six-figure sum on historic church at centre of controversy and 'upsetting rumours'

Rochdale council has shelled out on 'rescuing' an historic church - despite fears it could relaunch as a community hub and put existing venues out of business. Bosses agreed to buy Littleborough United Reformed Church - which dates back to the mid 19th century - at the latest cabinet meeting.

It is understood the authority will pay a six figure sum for the church and former Sunday school building, which had previously been marketed at £300,000. Church elders say the decision to sell to the council was not an easy one, but the problems of looking after a 150-year-old building were becoming a ‘burden to the congregation’, potentially putting its future at risk.

The deal allows the congregation to continue worshipping at the Victoria Street church. A statement from the elders read out at the meeting hit out at ‘conspiracy theorists’ who had peddled ‘deeply upsetting’ rumours about the move.READ MORE: All residents to get two per cent rebate on their council tax in Rochdale

The mooted sale has proven highly contrentious locally, with discussions centering around the church becoming a new ‘community hub’ - potentially in direct competition with the boxing club and Coach House.

Coun John Taylor, leader of the council’s Conservative group, raised the issue during the public part of the meeting, on Tuesday night. “Why have we got a recommendation to purchase the premises when the report says it doesn’t know why we would want those premises?” he said.

“The conversations around this have been that this would be turned into a community hub, that has never been dispelled, so I can only assume that’s what is expected of it. That’s where places like the boxing club feel they are not on a level playing field."

He said nearby venues