A CRADLEY Heath church is being demolished to provide a quiet area within its graveyard where people can sit and reflect.

The bulldozers are about to move in and tear down the dilapidated St Luke’s Church in Reddal Hill, which has been closed since October 2014.

Once the work is completed, only the footprint of the building will remain and the area will turfed.

The Archdeacon of Dudley, Nikki Groarke said: “Whilst it is always sad when a building has to be demolished for safety reasons, we know that in reality the church is the people, not the bricks and mortar."

Since the closure, the congregation has been worshipping with the existing congregation of St John’s in Dudley Wood, with the Revd Alicia Baker, Vicar of Dudley Wood and Cradley Heath.

Revd Baker added: “Local people have obviously felt very sad to lose the St Luke’s building, but have been very understanding when the reasons have been explained.

"Lots of people walk through the graveyard on their way to and from the town centre, so having the green space will make it a pleasant area for all."