A COMMUNITY group has been left 'devastated' by a decision which will see a religious conference centre closed.
The Friends of Glenfall House Retreat and Conference Centre have expressed their disappointment at the move which has been made for financial reasons.
Glenfall is owned by the Diocese of Gloucester and the house in Mill Lane, Charlton Kings, is due to shut its doors on July 31.
Donald Briggs, chairman of the Friends, described the decision as 'a terrible blow'. "I feel most for the resident director and her staff who work so tirelessly and cheerfully in support of others and who will now lose their jobs," he said.
"To a number of the Friends, myself included, Glenfall has been a huge part of our lives since the Diocese was given the house in 1991 by the community of nuns for whom it had been their convent."
The house is currently run by the Glenfall House Trust.
Mr Briggs said: "We know that Glenfall House has been trading at a loss during the recession and, more seriously, that the Trust lacks the capital to carry out repairs and refurbishments on a continuing basis.
"But we find it particularly disappointing that the Diocese has reached this position and have left us insufficient time to try and recover the financial position.
"The house has been renovated in the past using a substantial legacy – for all we know there might have been other benefactors prepared to rescue it."
He added: "The Glenfall community is larger than that of many Gloucestershire parishes and yet it would be unthinkable for the Diocese to close down a parish church without exploring every possible alternative."
The future of Glenfall is 'yet to be decided' but any 'possible funds that come from the closure of the house will be designated to provide spiritual provision in the Diocese of Gloucester', according to a statement on the centre's website.
The Friends of Glenfall House Retreat and Conference Centre have expressed their disappointment at the move which has been made for financial reasons.
Glenfall is owned by the Diocese of Gloucester and the house in Mill Lane, Charlton Kings, is due to shut its doors on July 31.
Donald Briggs, chairman of the Friends, described the decision as 'a terrible blow'. "I feel most for the resident director and her staff who work so tirelessly and cheerfully in support of others and who will now lose their jobs," he said.
"To a number of the Friends, myself included, Glenfall has been a huge part of our lives since the Diocese was given the house in 1991 by the community of nuns for whom it had been their convent."
The house is currently run by the Glenfall House Trust.
Mr Briggs said: "We know that Glenfall House has been trading at a loss during the recession and, more seriously, that the Trust lacks the capital to carry out repairs and refurbishments on a continuing basis.
"But we find it particularly disappointing that the Diocese has reached this position and have left us insufficient time to try and recover the financial position.
"The house has been renovated in the past using a substantial legacy – for all we know there might have been other benefactors prepared to rescue it."
He added: "The Glenfall community is larger than that of many Gloucestershire parishes and yet it would be unthinkable for the Diocese to close down a parish church without exploring every possible alternative."
The future of Glenfall is 'yet to be decided' but any 'possible funds that come from the closure of the house will be designated to provide spiritual provision in the Diocese of Gloucester', according to a statement on the centre's website.
