THE last remnants of a Farnworth church are to be torn down.

Contractors have been carrying out demolition work at St Gregory The Great Roman Catholic Church, which will make way for a children’s play area, and are close to flattening the 19th century structure.

The grade II listed building, on the corner of Presto Street and Church Street, will be replaced with a soft play and multi-use games areas to be used by the neighbouring St Gregory’s RC Primary School.

More than £150,000 had been invested into maintaining the church since its ceased being a place of worship in 1997, but the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford opted to demolish the derelict building after deciding it had no future.

Last month, The Bolton News reported that four churches and eight parishes in Bolton could be axed in a radical shake-up of the Catholic church.

St Gregory’s was built between 1873 and 1875, the presbytery was erected in 1896, and the parish hall in 1929.

In a report submitted to Bolton Council, the diocese said that some features of the church could be re-used elsewhere, sold, or donated to a museum.

It said: “The condition of the buildings has deteriorated over the past decade. Today there are areas of roof collapse and decay throughout both buildings. Today the church retains some features of significance, such as the High Altar and tiles designed by Pilkington’s. The High Altar should be considered for re-use in an appropriate setting and the tiles could potentially be de-accessioned and sold on or donated to a museum.”

It added that there is a “high level of social and spiritual communal value attached to the church” from the Farnworth community that it served for over a century.

Bolton Council approved the demolition work last year on the grounds that the removal of the dangerous structure and regeneration of the site would enhance the character of the area, though English Heritage said it did not believe there was a robust and clear justification for total demolition.

After the church was closed, furnishing, including the pulpit, pews, altar, decorative tiling and carved panelling, were removed for safe keeping. The building has continual decline with masonry collapsing in the Lady Chapel and the main building suffering serious structural problems, believed to be caused by mining subsidence, and extensive dry rot and timber decay.

The church has also been a target for thieves, who have ransacked the 140-year-old building while hunting for metal to sell.