Statement re the decision to sell the building of St John’s Church, Stone The Revd. J Neil Adams, minister of St John’s Church, Stone says: “On Sunday, 20 May, the congregation of St John’s Church, voted to leave its current building on Granville Terrace Stone, and put it up for sale. We have asked the West Midlands Synod of the United Reformed Church to sell the property for us – and are now looking for an alternative temporary venue to worship in while we wait to see where our permanent home will be. “The decision to sell the building has the total support of both of the church’s parent denominations: The Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church. It was not an easy decision to make but we feel it was the right one. “For many years the congregation at St Johns has struggled to maintain the premises adequately – and it has estimated that the cost of renovation would exceed the value of the property. We would need to spend almost a million pounds on essential repairs, and much more than this to modernise the building fully. Like almost everyone else, our overheads are stretching us to breaking point – and we simply cannot afford to keep the building on. “We believe that the people are the Church not the buildings – and the great news is St John’s is growing and thriving and is looking forward to living out its calling as the faithful people of God in its community.” The Revd. J Neil Adams, minister of St John’s Church, Stone 30 May 2012

The Revd. J Neil Adams, minister of St John’s Church, Stone says: “On Sunday, 20 May, the congregation of St John’s Church, voted to leave its current building on Granville Terrace Stone, and put it up for sale.  We have asked the West Midlands Synod of the United Reformed Church to sell the property for us – and are now looking for an alternative temporary venue to worship in while we wait to see where our permanent home will be. 

“The decision to sell the building has the total support of both of the church’s parent denominations: The Methodist Church and the United Reformed Church.  It was not an easy decision to make but we feel it was the right one. 

“For many years the congregation at St Johns has struggled to maintain the premises adequately – and it has estimated that the cost of renovation would exceed the value of the property.  We would need to spend almost a million pounds on essential repairs, and much more than this to modernise the building fully.  Like almost everyone else, our overheads are stretching us to breaking point – and we simply cannot afford to keep the building on.

“We believe that the people are the Church not the buildings – and the great news is St John’s is growing and thriving and is looking forward to living out its calling as the faithful people of God in its community.”

The Revd. J  Neil Adams, minister of St John’s Church, Stone

30 May 2012