A UNITED community has successfully saved its historic church from closure.

The Church of England's Manchester Diocese earmarked St Chad's Church, in Tonge Fold, for closure in 2015 due to the reducing size of its congregation, financial problems, and the need for major repair works to the grade II listed building.

However, local residents banded together to form Team Tonge Fold, pledging to work with the Parochial Church Council to put the once-thriving church and community hall back at the heart of the community.

At a hearing last Wednesday, Church Commissioners agreed that the overwhelming response from residents meant that the church should stay open — both as a place of worship and for community use.

Rachael Bamber, secretary and one of the three founding members of Team Tonge Fold, said: "A lot of people were very unhappy about the proposals and it was very frustrating.

"The response we have had from the community in the last couple of years has been incredible, but it has to be said that weren't too hopeful going into the meeting on Wednesday.

"The hearing was supposed to be in London but was moved to Bolton because of the number of people who wanted to attend.

"The Church Commissioners looked at the arguments for and against the closure, and there were 76 representations to support keeping it open compared to six who wanted it to shut.

"What is really great is that a community of people from all different backgrounds have come together to do this.

"We need to keep community assets like this open and I am so proud of what we have achieved."

In the draft plans to close the church, it was stated that attendance at Sunday services regularly dropped below 10 and that the church's 2016 account showed a deficit of £9,600.

Immediate repair work required at the church, in Longworth Street, were estimated to cost £180,000.

Tonge with The Haulgh councillor Nick Peel added: "We put arguments forward that the community of Tonge Fold has rallied around in the last 18 months. They are putting all sorts of activities on at the church and we said that if the diocese wants to get people back into the church for the spiritual side, then a big step towards that is to have it as a community centre too."

Representations against the closure of the church were also made by Age UK Bolton, 50 members of the over-50s luncheon club which meets at St Chad's, and 40 members of a Slimming World group.

St Chad's forms part of the benefice of Leverhulme, along with the parishes of St James and St Stephen and All Martyrs.