Plans for church associated with 'conversion therapy' pulled after backlash

Plans to create a new place of worship in Manchester for a church associated with so-called gay 'conversion therapy' have been pulled following a backlash.

The planning application to use part of the ground floor at the Sheridan Suite in Oldham Road as a place of worship for Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, a Pentecostal church from Nigeria, has now been withdrawn. A restaurant and bar at the function room facility in Miles Platting were set to be used for religious purposes according to the application lodged in March.

But concerns were raised about the church - which already has a presence in Greater Manchester - and its association with so-called 'conversion therapy'. It comes after the Liverpool ECHO exposed a branch of the church in Anfield offering a 'cure' for homosexuality through a three-day starvation programme.

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When the undercover reporter asked the church’s pastor to comment back in 2017, he claimed the church does not discriminate against anyone’s sexuality. Since then, the government has announced plans to ban so-called conversion therapy for gay and bisexual people in England and Wales – but as it stands, the bill currently in Parliament excludes trans people from these protections.

Miles Platting and Newton Heath councillor John Flanagan said he welcomes and supports all people of faiths and none, but described the views allegedly held by Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries as 'extreme' and 'dangerous'. He said: "These views do not respect my, my residents or Manchester’s values and are contrary to the respect, harmony and love we in Manchester show to everyone.

"Manchester is a city of respect and