Birmingham house-hunters are being offered an opportunity to buy a church, complete with 83-foot spire, for a cool £3 million.
Digbeth’s 195-year-old Holy Trinity Church has a 1,821 congregation capacity is being marketed by Circle Sales and Lettings.
The Birmingham company is remaining tight-lipped over the church’s current owners.
A spokesman said: “Due to client confidentiality, we cannot reveal the details of current owners. We have had interest, but no firm offer.”
But the publicity boasts: “This giant of a property oozes character with stained glass windows and beautifully carved stone.
“This amazing Grade II listed church is situated in a prominent location on the outskirts of central Birmingham. The internal floor area is in excess of 25,000 square feet.”
Holy Trinity has endured a chequered history over recent years. It ceased being a place of worship in 1971 and, for many years, served as Trinity Night shelter for the homeless.
In 2004, an application was lodged to convert the building for office use and it currently has “D1” non-residential planning permission.
The classification allows nurseries, clinics, schools, museums and training centres.
But the church, consecrated in 1823, is rich in ecclesiastical history. It became the centre of a simmering row over high church practices introduced by vicar Richard William Enraght whose trial in 1880, dubbed the Bordesley Wafer Case, gripped the nation.
He advocated “ritualism” – a blend of Catholic and C of E practices, and was prosecuted for using eucharist candles.
Father Enraght refused to attend his own trial and received the maximum penalty – imprisonment and dismissal from the parish.
