CONSIDERATION is being given to allow camping in a historic church in a bid to make the venue more viable.
Champing is the term given to overnight stays by tourists in churches and Woodland’s 125-year-old iron church could be added to the list.
Parochial parish council member Tim Smith and his daughter Harriet have already done a trial by camping in the church.
He said: “It was peaceful – There were no ghosts, no creaks or sounds – the usual sort of thing you would expect in a church.
“We think it could be a success. Financially it would be great for the church because obviously the Methodist Church in Woodland has closed and also a few weeks ago the Methodist Church in Wind Mill closed, and we don’t want our iconic church to go that way.”
He added that unlike many other historic churches, the building has its own toilets as well as a kitchen complete with hot running water, fridge, stove and microwave oven.
Incredibly, it also has a pool table and the building is close to the Edge Hotel, offering additional entertainment for campers.
Mr Smith said: “All of this and in the absolutely wonderful setting of Woodland – from a tourist’s point of view you have got all of Teesdale and Weardale and the iconic sites of Durham close by.”
Of the church’s history, he said: “It was brought up here by horse and cart and it was like a Meccano set and the villagers put it together.
“They went to the local iron foundry and had the altar made there and also the bell. It has a great history in the village.”
Mr Smith said the parochial parish council would make a final decision on whether it would be opened to champing in September.
Staindrop Scouts members have already expressed an interest in camping in the church.
