A priest’s plan to transform an abandoned church where he once held sermons into a home has been thrown out on appeal.

Revd Peter Harnden launched a bid on behalf of the Church of England to level the corrugated iron St Gabriel’s Church in Rough Common, near Canterbury.

After Canterbury City Council (CCC) rejected outline planning permission to replace the historic ‘tin tabernacle’ with a family house, Rev Harnden escalated the matter to the Planning Inspectorate.

But the government agency has also snubbed the idea, citing possible negative environmental effects on the nearby Stodmarsh Nature Reserve.

“Given the location of the development, and as it would introduce overnight accommodation and a source of water pollution, there is therefore a pathway for the proposal to affect water quality within the Stodmarsh designated sites,” inspectors wrote in their decision.

"It cannot be concluded that the proposal would not have a likely significant effect on the integrity of the sites.”

Rejecting the plans in September 2022, CCC argued it would result in an unacceptable loss of a community facility.

However, the inspectorate dismissed the council's reasoning, pointing out congregations have not been held since the building shut in March 2020 due to the pandemic.

St Gabriel’s was built in the 1930s as a mission church to serve agricultural workers who lived in the rural village of Rough Common.

It was never consecrated as a church or incorporated into the Diocese of Canterbury. The plot is owned by the parish, not the Church of England.

The shed-like structure was built without foundations and has no heating system, toilet facilities or running water and the parish’s main church St Michaels in neighbouring Harbledown has no money for renovations.

In his appeal letter to the inspectorate, Rev Harnden said: “In light of their dire financial state, the Parochial Church Council resolved to dispose of St Gabriel’s hut by way of sale,” said the appeal letter.

He previously told KentOnline that under direction of his church council, he sought outline permission so the land off Rough Common Road can be sold to developers to generate money for the Church of England.

“We have to be pragmatic,” said the priest last year.

“For parishes like ours there’s a very bleak future...”

“We’re conscious of the fact that we don’t want it to become an eyesore, but we don’t have the money to repair it.

“For parishes like ours there’s a very bleak future – there’s going to be some closures, some amalgamations of churches.”

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Rev Harnden has been contacted for comment.