The 12th Century Parish Church at Aldenham could be forced to close unless secular villagers shell out to help reverse a rapidly-worsening cash crisis.

The debt of St John the Baptist's church has grown steadily since 1992, to £7,235 last year, and recently church leaders published their accounts in a parish newsletter to prick residents' consciences.

"Most of us, whether regular church members or not, would be very sad to see it cease to be open.

"This is a very real possibility and not merely fundraising propaganda," churchwardens Ted Barker and Margaret Flashman wrote.

This week Reverend Ross Allen said the publicity had been effective in drawing villagers' attention to the plight of their church. "We've had a considerable amount of positive feedback," he said.

He said the community realised their church was their responsibility. "If the community wants a church, it's got to be more than church people who ensure its survival."

Rev Allen said a determined fund-raising strategy would be put in place over the coming months. He said something positive could come out of the crisis if it raised a debate on the role of the church in the community.

Churchwarden Ted Barker said it cost £500 a week to keep the church running, and with a congregation of 40 or 50 donating £3 each on average debts had been mounting.

"We cannot go on year after year like this. People should be aware that like any club it costs money to maintain.

"Everyone wants a church when someone dies or gets married," he said.

The situation in the parish has been made worse by the requirement since 1997 that churches are financially self-sufficient, receiving no money from church commissioners to pay clergy.

Church historian John Maloy said: "The font is the same one that was there in 1250. There is a lot of feeling in the village that the church and its heritage should be preserved.

"To see a central figure of the village disappear would hurt a lot of people.

"I hope the people's consciences will be pricked enough so the church is not threatened with extinction."

The churchwardens wrote: "At a stroke the Church of England will become like other self-supporting denominations.

"This has already become apparent in the imposed increase in the parish contribution to the diocese from £7,000 in 1992 to over £12,000 in 1996."

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