SHOCKED worshippers at one of York's most beautiful churches today vowed to fight plans to close it.

All Saints' Church, in North Street, was revealed as one of six churches recommended for redundancy in a new report by the Archbishop of York's Commission on pastoral provision for the city and surrounding area.

It also proposes to cut the number of paid clergy and combine a number of parishes in the city.

Stunned All Saints' warden Dr Robert Richards said he found out about the proposal when a member of another church phoned to ask if he would consider taking up a warden's post there in the future "because All Saints' was closing".

"I've already had one of our congregation on the phone in tears since the report came out.

"We think the commission has made a mistake. All Saints' is by no means a drain on the finances of the diocese. We're largely self-sufficient, and over the last 30 years have spent £500,000 on maintaining the building.

"The diocese pays for half of our priest's wages. Everything else comes out of the collection and donations."

Dr Richards says All Saints', which is a 13th century Grade I listed building, was not suitable to be anything other than a church.

"The church has huge architectural significance," he said. "It's in very good condition and has recently had a new organ put in and its spire and roof restored.

"The York Civic Trust called it 'York's most beautiful church' and I certainly agree. We're going to fight our corner over this."

Dr Richards says he was "reassured" after contacting the Archdeacon of York, the Venerable Richard Seed, to discuss the proposal.

All Saints' priest, Father Brian Gant, is currently working away.

Other churches recommended for redundancy include St Helen's, St Helen's Square, Holy Trinity and St Martin-cum-Gregory in Micklegate, St Laurence's, in Lawrence Street, and St Chad's, Campleshon Road.

Mr Seed said today his phone had been "red hot" since the report was released. "I really hope churches will see it as an exciting opportunity. If they don't agree with it, they need to ask why not? What action can we take?

"I don't want them to fight for their own little corner without looking at the whole report. This could lead to their death in the long term," he said.

The Archbishop of York, Dr David Hope, will meet the Deanery Synod on September 25 to discuss the proposals.

Updated: 11:22 Wednesday, September 04, 2002