A PETITION has been submitted to keep a medieval church open.

St Leonard’s Church in New Church Road, Hove, faces closure after suffering falling congregations and mounting maintenance bills.

The Saving St Leonard’s campaign handed in a petition of more than 2,000 signatures at Church House in Aldrington for the Diocese of Chichester. The Bishop of Chichester was reportedly there at the time.

Jenny Watts, of the campaign, said: “We didn’t speak to the bishop but he would have seen our banner.”

On May 19, the Parochial Church Council of Aldrington voted to ask the Diocese to consult on the future of St Leonard’s.