London: More than 3,500 churches have closed or fallen into disrepair in the UK over the past decade. These historic and architecturally stunning churches are now rapidly disappearing, with many being used for other purposes.

According to British media, many churches have been converted into mosques, luxury residences, pubs, swimming pools, community centers, libraries, museums, art centers, theaters and offices. Some churches are unused or closed, while many have been demolished due to non-payment of repair costs.

The Church of England still has more than 16,000 church buildings, but the huge budget required to restore them has become a major challenge. The National Church Trust says a massive fund is needed to repair churches, a problem that has been exacerbated by the resignation of former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby last year.

Church attendance is continuing to decline. In 2013, 788,000 people attended church each Sunday, down to 557,000. According to the 2021 official census, Christians are now a minority in England and Wales for the first time, reflecting a major shift in the religious landscape.