THE Diocese of Manchester is set to sell its retreat and conference centre - due to lack of interest.

The finance committee of the Bishop's council and the Diocesan Board of Finance are recommending that the "for sale" sign goes up at Crawshawbrook Retreat in Rossendale.

Canon Alan Wolstencroft of Bolton Parish Church, who is on both committees, said: "The recommendation has been made partially because we can no longer afford to run it, but more importantly because it is under-used."

The centre was purchased as a place where people from the diocese could meet and get away from it all.

As congregations dwindled, church leaders tried to keep the centre going by extending the retreat into a conference centre for businessmen.

Canon Wolstencroft said: "Unfortunately there is so much competition, businesses have tended to choose other locations.

"Although we were prepared to lose money on the venture, which we have done quite successfully, there's only so much you can take."

The recommendations will go before the diocese and synod on November 18 when a final decision would be made, and he did not rule out the retreat being converted into a hotel.

"It's a little premature to look at that side, but I am sure that if the recommendations are accepted it would be ideal as a hotel as it's situated in such a lovely place."

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