THE canon of a loved church which has had to temporarily shut its doors due to safety concerns has encouraged his congregation to look forward to brighter days.

A cornerstone of worship and community support, Dodworth Parish Church recently announced its unexpected temporary closure.

Canon Keith Farrow said the building has faced an uncertain future for the last six months after prolonged wet weather caused structural damage to the roof and woodwork inside the church.

Canon Keith is determined to keep the church’s congregation together in the meantime no matter what.

The church leader is working hard to find a solution and in the short-term, Sunday’s service will instead be held at Cawthorne Church, at 11am.

Keith told the Chronicle about the difficult decision to close the church’s doors until a building surveyor has given the all clear.

He said: “The cost is £250,000 for a full roof repair and £40,000 for a partial roof repair which we have decided to go for.

“I am concerned because I’ve got a regular congregation going to the church. For me, it’s about giving the congregation reassurance that I’m working towards getting the problem resolved and have a plan of action.

“We don’t know if the closure will be in the short, medium or long term until the surveyor gets back to us in a couple of days.

“My message to to the congregation is that the church is more than a building and it’s important to me that we stick together.

“That’s the real church, the people.

“That’s important because we have a Thursday church where sometimes more than 25 people come to a service.

“For our coffee mornings we can get up to 30 to 40 people.

“My message is like on Dad’s Army, ‘don’t panic, don’t panic’ I want to be keeping the people together.

In regard to any planned baptisms, weddings and funerals that may be affected by the church’s temporary closure Keith has plans to get in touch and make alternative arrangements with the help of other churches in the benefice.

Keith also noted his plans to keep members of the congregation who may not be able to reach other churches in mind.

He added: “My first thought would be that we would offer lifts to people, but I realise it’s not always easily done.

“I would be then saying in the long-term the community in Dodworth is big enough that we need an Anglican presence in the village.

“I would then be speaking to my parochial church council and my superiors in the diocese if the building is out of action for good.

“I am worried, but I know what Dodworth people are like, they are tenacious and they will not take this lying down.

“I feel very supported by not just the church, but the whole village.

“I feel like they will be behind us and help us get through this difficulty.”