THE fight is set to continue to save an historic church from demolition.

St Peter and St Paul's Church in Birch was closed for public worship for safety reasons in 1990.

Investigations were made into whether the 19th century church could be saved but the Church Commissioners eventually said the building was beyond repair and should be pulled down.

However, opponents, including the North East Essex Building Preservation Trust, are calling for the building to be saved.

Now a public inquiry is to be held to determine the building's future - although no precise date has been fixed.

The inquiry is a referral under the Mission and Pastoral Measure 2011 and the Skelmersdale Agreement of 1986 which, according to a Church Commissioners' annual report, will be the first such inquiry to be held in more than 20 years.

It will look at the special architectural, historic and archaeological interests of the church including its contribution to the conservation area and whether it is practical and viable to restore it.

The hearing will be overseen by a planning inspector who will report his findings to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government for a final decision.

If the demolition, which has been supported by the parochial church council, is agreed, the site of the church could become a churchyard.

It would like the area to remain as a place of worship - a church without walls where people could meet in a garden for services and reflection.

However, David Balcombe, director of the building preservation trust, said his group would continue to campaign to save the building.

Mr Balcombe added Gary Cottee is still keen to convert the Grade II listed church into a house in a project costing more than £1million.

He said: "The church is in a conservation area and has a powerful impact on the surrounding area.

"The building gives the community a sense of belonging and its spire can be seen for miles.

"The church was built by the philanthropic Round family in the 19th century and is part of their crucial landholdings along with the alm houses and other buildings."

Mr Balcombe criticised the fact the inquiry has been set for "July or August" and said: "It has taken the planning inspector two years to get to this point and they have not set a specific date for it which is ludicrous.

"The cynic in me says the delay is deliberate but Mr Cottee is still keen to carry on with his plans to convert it."

The issue has split the community but Mr Balcombe said more than 1,000 people had signed the petition to save the church.

He added: "The building is a landmark. It is also important to hold the inquiry in the community.

"We have to fight this at every level and to make sure democracy is as open and inclusive as possible."