Dear friends, writes Reverend Lindsay Southern, in Spring last year (2025), after public conversations with the wider Chilton community, St Aidan’s Parish Church Council reluctantly took the decision to begin the closure process for St Aidan’s Church building.
Why did they decide to begin the closure of the church building?
Although the church is well attended for funerals, baptisms and civic services like Remembrance, regular Sunday services are attended by very few people.
The congregation is small and mostly elderly and find it increasingly difficult to look after the church building, raise funds, as well as do all the necessary governance work required of charity trustees.
The church is cold in winter and in need of repair.
What happens next?
The decision to close is passed first to Durham Diocese for consideration and they will commission an independent report on the building.
The decision then goes to the Church Commissioners for consideration.
They will also consult the wider community.
This process can take a long time – at least 9 months to several years from the initial Parish Church Council decision
If the decision to close is confirmed the church building closes and may be sold. (The local church does not receive any money from the sale – often money raised only covers the cost of insuring & looking after it whilst it is closed and waiting to be sold)
Is the church still open for Sunday worship, baptisms, weddings and funerals?
YES – for now your local church remains open until the closure is finalised.
This can take at least 9 months. It is likely the church will close some time in 2026. Until then you can still worship here twice a month on Sundays at 11am, be baptised and have a funeral or wedding here.
The local congregation still have to heat, insure and run the church until then so your support would be greatly appreciated.
Where will our local Church of England Church be, when St Aidan’s closes?
The Church of England is committed to a parish system so you will always have a church that serves the community. Chilton will become part of the parish of Cornforth and Ferryhill. Your local parish church building will become St Luke’s, Ferryhill. St Aidan’s congregation may choose to worship there or they may look to find a space somewhere else in Chilton to meet together. If you think you have an idea where the congregation could meet – please get in touch.
I would like to worship here in Chilton at St Aidan’s & be part of the local church community Please do join us! You are very welcome here.
If you have any questions or queries please contact the Interim Change Minister Reverend Lindsay Southern who is here until Easter Day 2026.
Tel: 07720242468
Email: lindsay.southern[@]durham[.]anglican[.]org
St Aidan’s is currently linked with St Luke’s Ferryhill and Holy Trinity, Cornforth. These three church communities will be looking for a new vicar in 2026. Please do hold them in your prayers.
Ferryhill & Chilton's local community newspaper.
The building would make lovely home as they sell it off .
Darren Morton probably end up as a mosque
cue the “mystery” fire or some other claim of structural twaddle………..fast forward 5 years, a load of new builds by some faceless foreign own corporation that will sit half empty and used purely as collateral
Leigh – where your mam n dad got married 😔
Jessica Alice Coulthard next project house lined up
It was where I was married back in 1979. Very sad 😥
Andrew Morrow
Oh no way that’s awful news
Phillip Hall Clare Hall x
people have just stop going to church what do you expect they cant keep it open it comes down to the community if you what it to stay open
Classic use it or loose it, would make a great community hall
Derek Bradley definitely
My heart goes out to the church family 🙏
Oh that’s such a shame.
Chilton down, Cornforth too, the Church closer is relentless.
Use it or lose is true to a degree, but the church still needs to pay for the maintenance and upkeep of these historic buildings, and now with no revenue whatsoever. Bravo CofE.
Dreadful news😩
No one believes in the invisible man in the sky no more so these buildings become part of history
Ian Scott How do you know no one believes in God any more. You can only speak for yourself.
Ann Lumsdon which god? There’s literally been thousands over humans history. The reality is as the older generation die off less and less people go to these irrelevant places and they have to close.
Ian Scott well over 4million in the UK follow a religion where followers preach “k**l the infidels” and in the ‘other’ they preach love, peace and love they neighbour. 🤷♀️
Trudi Ranson those 4 million should be on the first plane out the country
The C of E claim to have no money yet last year paid over £500 million (yes over half a Billion) in dividends to share holders. The new Archbishop of Canterbury is planning on giving £100 million in slave reparations. Her predecessor who had to resign for covering up child abuse is still listed as a Patron of Kynren having given away Auckland Castle and it’s vast lands to his best pal Johnathon Ruffer. The list is endless folks. Don’t let anyone tell you the C of E is skint.
Jimmy Jane FlagMoff Im not going to debate the management of the CofE. There are 40,000 church buildings in the UK many are Listed. They need structural repair ( many major), general repairs,maintenance, they need heat (you think your house is expensive 😳), water, staff. Latest number of clergy..20,000 approx ( declining recruitment ). Many churches and Cathedrals have relied on volunteers for ‘extra’ work. Lower numbers and aging congregations can’t ensure the future.
Forgive me if I support a religion that preaches forgiveness, peace, love, and hope. It is not just an institution that is in need of reform, though it is that, of course; and it is. Change of management will not change the belief and needs of members.
I will not debate my comment
Feeling sad we were married there in 1986 and had both our children’s christening there.
Such sad news unfortunately in this present world of change we are living in there will be more Mosques built in this country slowly but surely taking over the Christian Country We were once renowned for,
Are you religious John? Because I can almost guarantee next to nobody in this village is… hence why it’s shut.
I was christened there in 1949 and married there in 1970 lovely church
🫠
Stephanie Harris isn’t this where Skyla was christened? Xxx
Loram Mahon yeah it was and myslef, gutted it cant continue xx
If the support is therefore communal services and commemoration events then why doesn’t the Church authority look at converting the church to dual purpose use. The main body of the church to be used as a hall not only for worship but community groups, dance classes, fund raising events, drop in services. family parties, wakes etc The apse and chancel can be screened off when the hall section is in use and stackable chairs used for worship and events instead of the restrictive pews. It worked for our church and saved a beautiful building and added a resource into the community. The C of E is rich in wealth and land ownership and should be footing the bill to help communities instead of cutting them loose
PS, if I were the congregation, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for a vicar……our church has been reliant upon retired clergy and volunteers for over 10 years now, and it thrives. We still have all the Sunday services and everything you’d expect from the church thanks to the fabulous support of our retired incumbent.
No this should not be allowed especially when there’s more new mosques etc being put up everywhere. This is so wrong
What a shame big part of chilton history but such as life goses so sad 😢
Make a lovely home