AN historic church which was earmarked for demolition in a bid to make way for new homes has been saved.

A final decision on the future of the Church of St Peter and St Paul, in Birch, was due to be made after a public inquiry in October.

But campaigners have now been sent a letter stating the demolition plans, put forward by the Church Commissioners for England, have been scrapped.

It means initial plans to convert the Grade II listed building – which was declared redundant in 1990 – into a home could be back on the table.

The letter, which was sent by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, states: “I write to inform you that the referral of the draft scheme for the proposed demolition of the closed Church of Birch St Peter, to the Secretary of State, has been withdrawn by the Church Commissioners for England.

“I therefore confirm that as a consequence, the non-statutory public inquiry will not proceed.

“I confirm that the Secretary of State’s interest in the matter has now concluded and the case will be closed.”

Tim Young, Colchester councillor who married Birch girl Julie Young in the church 33 years ago, was part of a campaign group to fight the plans.

He said: “We are absolutely delighted that the church we were married in is not going to be demolished.

“What’s strange is, there doesn’t appear to be any reason why the church commissioners have changed their mind.

“We were all gearing up for the inquiry in October but it looks like that won’t be necessary now.”

The Colchester and North East Essex Building Preservation Trust had spearheaded a campaign calling for the church to be saved.

Simon Hall, chairman of trust, said: “It has been a long process and the building preservation trust has incurred significant expenses, as indeed has the church and it is a shame that money had to be wasted when we could have come to this situation consensually some years ago at no cost to anyone.

“We are yet to obtain the reasoning behind the decision but I believe there has been a recognition that if planning permission is given for the plans to turn it into a dwelling is granted, it would make the demolition plan somewhat obsolete."

We contacted the Church Commissioners through the Church of England but no response was received. The church was declared redundant in 1990.