Garff Commissioners are considering how the would use All Saints’ Church if they went ahead with buying the empty building.

The local authority is gathering ’facts and figures’ to see whether it should buy the church in Lonan and convert it into a community centre.

Chairman of Garff Commissioners Nigel Dobson said: ’At the moment we are conducting a needs assessment.

’The assessment will look at how we would use the building, as there would be no point in purchasing it if it doesn’t get used.

’We need to get the facts and figures before the board will make a decision.’

’It’s a substantial building, but it needs refurbishment. If we do purchase the church, it will be used as a community centre for concerts, recitals, pre-school groups and youth clubs,’ he explained.

Special services for occasions such as Christmas and Remembrance Sunday would also be held in the building.

’The region around the church has the largest housing area in Lonan, outside of Laxey. There are no other facilities for those living there at present and in 10 years’ time there will be more housing around the area,’ he added.

Dirk McHarrie, a founder of the ’All Saints Church - acquisition proposal’ Facebook group, said: ’I am in full support of the acquisition proposal to determine the actual need and full costs and would accept its recommendations.

’However, my personal preference would be a charitable group to undertake the full responsibility.’

All Saints’ Church closed in September 2014.

Archdeacon of Man Andrew Brown said: ’There were some very serious issues that had to be attended to, such as damp, a risk of danger from the electrics and health hazards from the kitchen.’

It was closed due to ’low congregation numbers’, with the decision made to focuse financial resources on improving Christ Church in Laxey.