Launde Abbey – one of most historic Church of England retreats in the country – has been saved from closure. The 12th century abbey, near East Norton, Leicestershire, was faced with closure because it could not raise £1million for essential safety improvements.
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Launde Abbey – one of most historic Church of England retreats in the country – has been saved from closure. The 12th century abbey, near East Norton, Leicestershire, was faced with closure (as reported earlier) because it could not raise £1million for essential safety improvements.
If the money had not been found by this month’s deadline, the abbey – which is used by nearly 11,000 people a year as a retreat – would have been sold for private development. The Trust that looks after the abbey had managed to raise £800,000 through a fund-raising drive, but was still £200,000 short.
The Diocese of Leicester came to the rescue at the last moment, and has lent the abbey, which stands in 450-acres of parkland, the remaining funds needed. A condition of the loan is that the Trust continues to raise money and pays back the Diocese.
Abbey Warden, the Rev Tim Blewett, said: “The support we received was fantastic and I have to say a big thank-you. It would have been disastrous if the abbey wasn’t here anymore. It would be like losing Canterbury Cathedral. “It is a magnificent place for people to come and what has happened over the past few months shows how valued it is by the people of Leicestershire. The diocese has shown a great deal of faith in us, but we have to ensure we come up with the £200,000.”
The Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Tim Stevens, said it is was now vital to ensure that work is completed to secure the long-term future of the ‘historic and beautiful retreat’.
A total of £2.5million is needed to complete all the work. The Church of England has provided £1.5 million of that, which left the Trust to raise the remaining £1 million. Work will now start in October.
Tags: Church Life