THE minister of a church that suffered a collapsed wall would like to see the building demolished and rebuilt with new materials.

One side of Haddenham Methodist Church collapsed on July 4 as workmen were finishing off work inside.

The church is a wichert construction, built with locally dug materials (straw and clay) and has been featured in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest wichert building in the world.

But the Rev David Sharp said he would like the listed building to be demolished, which would save money as wichert buildings are expensive to maintain.

He said: "We are appealing for permission to demolish the building. It is my personal opinion that the church has to start again from scratch. But I can see the arguments to keep it in its original state."

A meeting is to be held on September 7 to discuss the issue.

Mr Sharp will meet officers from Aylesbury Vale District Council, insurers and the building contractor and look at the possibilities of trying to restore the church and maintain it or consider ways of rebuilding it.

Currently, scaffolding is holding up the roof, and Mr Sharp has been told by the district council that it is not in any danger.

Members of the congregation have already held events to raise money for restoration.

Mr Sharp said: "On the Sunday after the collapse members of the congregation sold strawberries and cream outside the ruins and raised about £100 that way."

He added: "We will be holding our services in the Roman Catholic Church for now."

He added: "When their church was being built they used ours and now it is the other way around."