EFFORTS by the local community to retain a Sticklepath church as a place of worship are still very much alive, despite a consultation process that has begun formally to have it closed.
St Mary's Church was built in 1875 and the origins of a chapel on the spot can date back to 1146.
The Sticklepath church was amalgamated with Belstone in 2003 with one parochial council responsible for both churches. However, with a small, but loyal, congregation of around six attending services twice a month and the costs of maintenance, the parochial council of Belstone has requested its closure.
But supporters to keep it open held a public meeting at Sticklepath Village Hall last month which attracted around 40 people, and from that a working party has been formed to try and save the church.
The Rev Stephen Cook, team rector of the Northmoor Team ministry, said: 'Sticklepath has been part of a single parish with Belstone since the 1920s. There has been discussion about the future of St Mary's Sticklepath for many years, but it came to a head in 2010, when a close look at the books revealed that for some time Belstone had been subsidising Sticklepath to the tune of about £2,000 per year.
'Understandably, they recognised this was not a situation which could be allowed to continue and formally petitioned the Bishop of Exeter to begin consultations about closure.
'So we are now part-way into a process which could take up to three years. During that time, formal and informal discussions will need to take place about the future of the building and whether there are ways of keeping it as a place of worship or if there are suitable alternative uses for it.'
'I am delighted that a group of people has come forward which is prepared to have a go at keeping it as a church.