A bitter battle has erupted over the fate of a derelict church after a local businessman submitted plans to transform the Grade II-listed building into a mosque.

The historic St John the Evangelist church in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, has not been used as a place of worship since the tower was declared unsafe in the 1980s and it now faces an uncertain future.

The building, which dates back to 1788, was last used as an antiques centre and cafe but the pandemic forced it to close its doors once again in 2020.

However, there is one man who is ready and willing to restore the church, but only on the condition that it becomes a mosque. Last year, it was purchased for £140,000 by Darul Falah Mosque, a community interest company and run by Zabihullah Zamir.

Last month, the Church Commissioner blocked the plan - and while the Church of England has sold the building, there is a covenant that prohibits it becoming a place of worship for another religion.

In another twist, Stoke-on-Trent council approved the plans in August before being vetoed by the CofE, raising fresh questions over the future of Britain's abandoned churches, The Telegraph reports.

Thousands of disused churches have closed in the past decade, with many that are sold by the CofE going on to become houses, flats, shops, restaurants or community centres.

It comes amid a decline in the number of Christians in England and Wales, with the last census revealing the number of Brtons who said they were Christians falling below 50 per cent for the first time to 46.2 per cent.

This was a 13 per cent decrease in a decade and a major drop from the 72 per cent figure in 2001.

At the same time, the number of Muslims in England and Wales is rising, with a 2021 census revealing 6.5 per cent are Muslim, up from 4.9 per cent in 2011.

The proposed church-mosque conversion on Hanley's Town Road has flared tensions with the building becoming a target for vandalism.

Outside is littered with broken bottles and its historic stained glass windows have been boarded up. There are also security guards parked outside. 

Residents have been left divided by the proposals, with one telling The Telegraph: 'It's a nice building just standing empty, so get it back into use, I say. There's no animosity.'

But others in Hanley object to the plans, with one saying: 'There are far too many churches being taken away.'

Another revealed that his grandparents got married at the church and to see it stop being used as a church 'just seems so wrong'.

 A spokesperson for the Church Commissioner said: 'We support former churches being used for community purposes, but a restrictive covenant prohibits the use of the building as a place of worship other than as a church.'

The former church was at the centre of the violent disorder that rocked Hanley last month, as two groups of protesters clashed in Town Road.

The disorder came as riots and anti-immigration riots engulfed Brits on following the fatal stabbing of three girls in Southport in July. The unrest was fuelled by false rumours online that the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker.

There was also misinformation about the church project, with some accusing the new owners of desecrating the graveyard and damaging and removing headstones. 

A video circulated on social media which appeared to show stacks of gravestones, some of them damaged, as work was being carried out on the site. 

But council officials found 'no evidence' of graves being disturbed .

A spokesman said at the time: "We are aware of the video which has recently resurfaced on social media and appears to date from September 2023. The concerns raised in this video are historical. 

'Officers have visited the site and found no evidence of further works being carried out or any public health or safety concerns. It should be noted that St John's Church ceased operation in 1985, having had uses other than as a place of worship since. 

"Although it is probable that graves are present within the area around the church, there is no evidence to indicate that any have been disturbed. 

'If any illegal activity is identified, including a non-permitted use of the building, we will ensure that appropriate action is taken.' 

Speaking about converting the church, Mr Zamir told The Telegraph: 'We believe that transforming this historic building into a vibrant community hub will bring immense benefits to the local area.

'Both parties agree that the current state of the church – a once sacred space that has stood empty and unused for far too long – deserves better.'