Meeting called over historic Saltaire church's uncertain future

The Grade I listed Saltaire United Reformed Church, on Victoria Road, which was commissioned and paid for by Sir Titus Salt in the mid-19th century, has been closed for public worship since the building's ceiling collapsed just before the pandemic in February 2020.

Although repairs are set to begin soon, the church, which also houses the mausoleum where Sir Titus and his family are buried, will now be without a minister, prompting worry about its future from one former member.

"No future has been agreed for the building," said a former church member, who wanted to remain anonymous.

Saltaire United Reformed Church

"The church has been closed for so long, you do worry about people drifting away.

"It's such a stunning building and an awful lot of money and grants have been spent on it over the years.

"The future of this magnificent Grade I listed building is unclear."

The Rev Jamie Kissack, moderator of the United Reformed Church Yorkshire Synod said: "Saltaire United Reformed Church (URC) closed for public worship in February 2020 after part of its ceiling collapsed. This happened a month before the first Covid-19 lockdown.

"Services were moved online which is where they continue to take place while the pandemic goes on and while the building is repaired and made safe for public worship.

"The Rev Caroline Andrews served as a Special Category Minister at Saltaire to help with an arts project.

"These posts are time-limited and even though her term was due to end a year ago, it was extended until the end of 2021 to help the work and mission of the church during the pandemic."

It was also confirmed that a meeting between the church and its elders would take place to discuss future plans for the church going forward.

Len Morris, a retired elder at the Saltaire church, said: "The building is currently closed for worship.

"Meanwhile, we've been meeting for services on Zoom. We have an average of 15 to 20 people for the Zoom meetings, but for those who can't attend the meetings, we have a number of church members who are phoning them to keep in touch.

"We've been very active," said Mr Morris. "We have services every Sunday, prayer meetings every Tuesday and Zoom coffee mornings every fortnight.

"Now our minister has moved to Cheshire, we do hope to get another minister.

"When a minister goes, there's always a period of uncertainty.

"It's a Grade I listed building, so repairing the ceiling is an expensive job to sort out. We're waiting for the work to start. It was due to start before Christmas.

"It's quite a grand church with some nice bells. But we can't ring them because it's likely that more of the ceiling could fall in. We're frightened of something like that happening."

When the ceiling collapsed in February 2020, Rev Andrews told the Telegraph & Argus at the time: "It's devastating. Absolutely devastating.

"While it's terrible that the ceiling has come down, we're really counting our blessings that people weren't injured.

"With it being a world heritage site, we have so many people that would pop in on the Sunday.

"I know what the congregation has done in order to keep the church going. They do their level best to keep it open.

"It costs a lot to run the building.

"In some ways it's very much about the church being so loved. The church is packed out every Christmas, every Easter."

Shortly after the collapse, Maria Glot, a Saltaire UNESCO World Heritage tour guide, told the T&A about the building's importance to Bradford.

She said: "It's the Saltaire church. I love the building because it oozes history, totally oozes. They have generations of people who have lived and worshipped in Saltaire.

"It's a symbol of the wealth and the skills this area has to offer. The beautiful architecture, the beautiful pillars, the ornate plasterwork. These are all skills to the incredible craftsmen that makes an amazing place to live and visit.

"That church symbolises so much: culture, history, worship."