Uncertainty surrounds the future of an East Hampshire church as its long-anticipated closure may have been delayed by a divine intervention.

A decision is expected shortly on what should happen to St John’s Langrish.

Moves to close the church began in 2023 with a Pastoral Scheme being drawn up by Church Commissioners on advice from the Portsmouth Diocese.

Approval would allow the Bishop of Portsmouth to close St John’s for worship and potentially merge the parish of Langrish with East Meon.

A formal consultation was launched in mid-2025 but an objection was raised by Canon Terry Louden, with leaders acknowledging the church’s former vicar of 17 years made “many valid points” in his submission.

“Matters at the Church of England don’t move very swiftly,” said David Mowlam, Langrish PCC Secretary.

“They don’t want to cause any upset to anybody and will only do something if there are no valid objections.

“At the moment we don’t know for certain if it will close and if it does the parish will amalgamate with East Meon to form a new benefice.

“Even if it’s decided the objection should be overruled and the closure should go ahead, the objector has 28 days after that decision to seek leave to apply for the Privy Council legal department.”

Mr Mowlam added: “We’re expecting to have a formal answer by the second half of January but we don’t know what that answer will be.

“If the objector is given leave to apply than it may be many months before that process moves through.

“We can’t assume it will close so it’s business as usual.”

The 1870s church has struggled since Covid as leaders were unable to fill an administrative post while they decided against launching a £90,000 appeal for a new roof amid the cost of living crisis.