A campaigner who saved a 140-year-old church from demolition has said he is pleased with new plans for the building.

The Cowper Memorial Evangelical and Congregation Church at Beazley End, between Wethersfield and Sible Hedingham, was due to be demolished in 2002 by the then owners, the Trust of Evangelical Fellowship and Congregational Churches.

Once the Victorian chapel was demolished, the trust hoped to build two homes in its place.

But a campaign to save the chapel was successfully orchestrated by Norman Jennings, of Kynaston Road, Panfield.

Mr Jennings, 68, regularly attended the church for 20 years and felt the demolition of the church would change the face of the hamlet of Beazley End, as well as deprive residents of a historic building.

More than 20 letters of opposition were received by Braintree Council, along with letters of support for the campaign from MP Alan Hurst and Essex County Council's historic building department. The application to demolish the chapel was refused.

Now, Mr Jennings said the church has been sold to a local builder, who intends to renovate the church for use as a private house.

Mr Jennings said: "I have met with the builder and it seems his plans for the chapel are a much better use of such a lovely building."

Published Monday July 26, 2004

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