A row has erupted over plans to house a new village shop and café in a church.

Villagers in Tattingstone are split over the proposals, with church leaders claiming St Mary's in Tattingstone will be forced to close if the project does not go-ahead.

However, objectors claim Reverend Annette Shannon and Lay Elder Simon Harley are 'scaremongering' and the historic church is not a suitable location.

Church leaders last week revealed at meeting held at Tattingstone village hall last week that phase two of the project would mean the font and all the pews would be removed to make way for the new facilities, with portable chairs used for services and ceremonies.

Nearly 100 people have signed a petition against using the church as a shop and café and a number of villagers have spoken of their upset and anger at the plans.

Tattingstone farmer Russel Abbot, whose family's village connections go back four generations, is supportive of a shop and cafe, but believes the church is the wrong place to have them.

"I understand the church needs to move forward but St Mary's is very small by comparison to other churches that have shops cafes within them," said Mr Abbott.

"I'm not against the cafe and I'm not against the shop. It could be a viable and good thing to do for the village, an asset. What I am against, is the harm to the church.

"Like a lot of other traditional village people here, you grow up with the church being at the heart of Tattingstone. It has held school concerts nativity plays and, believe it or not, I always went to church on a Sunday when I was growing up.

"I was married there, all three of my children have been Christened there. St Mary's is very close to my heart and if it was ever in need then I would be among the first to help out, and dig into my own pocket."

Mr About admits he has been moved to tears at the prospect, feelings he claims that are widely shared within the parish.

"Many believe it is disrespectful to those that have been laid to rest or committed there," he added. "A church should be a place of rest, reflection and somewhere you can go when you have lost someone and be able to have to me to yourself and not be watched upon by people sitting in cafe saying things like 'oh, there is so and so, they have lost their granddad or whoever."

Other locations have been put forward and discussed since the project was first mooted in February last year but St Mary's was put forward with church elders claiming it was in danger of closing as it was struggling to raise the £18,000 to £20,000 running cost..

Mr Abott said: "What concerns me is the scaremongering being used to coerce people.

"The vicar told us at the discussion that if it is turned into accommodation, people won't be able to visit their loved one's graves and in some cases the gravestone will have to be moved and bodies exhumed.

"I have got very emotional about this and admit I have shed a tear because this means so much to me. It is a difficult one.

"I have been in the village 40 years, my dad 77 years and his parents, grandparents and great grandparent are all buried in the church yard."

While not ruling out the possibility of using the church, the rector accepted it was not universally popular.

The Revd Annette Shannon, Rector North Samford Benefice said: "In 2021, a questionnaire was sent to Tattingstone residents asking what they would most like to see in the village and the overwhelming response was for the creation of a community shop and café.

"A volunteer steering group was set up by the parish council and discussions began about possible locations.

"St Mary's Church was put forward as a location for the new community project, potentially increasing the use of the church, improving the village facilities and allowing the church to remain at the heart of the community, albeit in a different way.

"The congregation is small and there is concern that it is becoming harder to look after the building – and they are supportive of ideas that would ensure the church has a sustainable future which would benefit the whole village - as well as allowing the building to continue to be used for church services such as weddings, funerals, baptisms and worship.

"At a recent meeting, attended by more than 100 residents, the steering group received many positive and supportive comments about the proposals for the community shop and café.

"However, they were made aware of residents who are unhappy with the proposals and would want to the church to remain unchanged, with the community shop located elsewhere.

"We are pleased that the community are continuing to explore ways the proposals can be adapted to improve the services in the village."

Andy Airey, chairman of the Tattingstone Community Shop Steering Group, declined to comment.

The group carried out a feasibility study among villagers and that showed a strong level of demand - not just desire - for a community shop in Tattingstone.

The group has now moved forward on three main fronts:

1. Developed a greater understanding of setting up a community shop

1. Explored village location options to potentially site a community shop

1. Established a wider Steering Group to lead on key aspects such as marketing/comms, location, funding/finance, product/service sourcing, volunteering, legal etc

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