Dereliction fear at church linked to Duchess

A HISTORIC Leeds church where the ancestors of the Duchess of Cambridge are buried is in danger of becoming derelict after being abandoned following its sale by the Church of England.

By The Newsroom

Published 3rd Sep 2012, 07:00 BST

St John’s Church, a grade II listed building in Roundhay Park, was sold to the Pentecostal City Mission (PCM) in 2010 but after early initial use as a place of worship the church and its grounds have since been left to the elements.

The churchyard, where members of the Lupton family are buried, has become overgrown. The Duchess of Cambridge is directly descended from the Luptons and her father, Michael Middleton, was born in Leeds.

Church Commissioners and Leeds Council are now desperately trying to find a way of saving the church and its grounds.

Officials have drawn-up an action plan with the London-based PCM but doubts remain over the ability of the evangelical church to carry out even basic wind and waterproofing after thefts of lead and tiling left holes in the roof.

St James Palace said the Duchess had not been approached about the deterioration and she was unable to comment. Mr Middleton, did not respond to a request to comment.