Launde Abbey under threat

The 12th century Launde Abbey, one of the Church of England's finest retreat houses, is threatened with closure unless urgent repairs and renovations costing £2.5 million are carried out. The work to bring the house up to the standards required by health and safety legislation will require rewiring and updating the kitchens, dining rooms and bedrooms. The trust which runs the Abbey has raised a loan of £1.5 million from the Church or England and has now launched an appeal for a further £1 million.

Unless the work is carried out the Abbey, which welcomes 20,000 visitors a year, will be forced to close from September.

You can read more about this on the Daily Telegraph website.