THE chance to convert a grade II listed Victorian church into a family home is an opportunity few developers would turn down.

However, a number of potential buyers could be put off after learning burials will continue to take place in the surrounding graveyard.

The Church of England is applying for planning permission to convert St Paul's Church, in Kexby, between York and Pocklington, into a residential dwelling.

After consultation among the congregation and the local community, a decision was made to sell the church.

The view among those who were consulted was that they were no longer able to maintain the building, which has not been used as a church for about 12 months.

It was felt that it made sense for people who had been worshipping at St Paul's, a grade II listed building, to go instead to St John the Baptist's Church, in nearby Wilberfoss.

Martin Sheppard, a spokesman for the York Diocese, said: "It's far too important a building to demolish.

"Being a listed building, a future use had to be found for it rather than it being kept empty. It was agreed that the best thing was to offer it to be converted to a residential building of great character and one of architectural significance.

"It's got to be made into a dwelling that respects its architectural heritage."

Kexby also had a chantry chapel dedicated to St Mary that stood from at least 1398, but it is not clear which site it existed on.

The churchyard will remain open for burials, even if St Paul's is sold for residential use.

St Paul's Church, which was built in 1852, was designed by F C Penrose in early Gothic style, and is one of the earliest and most complete surviving examples of his work. The building consists of a chancel, nave, north-west bell turret with spire and one bell and a west door and canopy.

Any sales proceeds will go to the Churches Conservation Trust and the York Diocese Pastoral Fund.

The fund helps to pay expenses resulting from the reorganisation of parish boundaries. Last year, The Press revealed City of York Council recommended approval for an application to convert into apartments a former Methodist chapel in Acomb's conservation area.

Chris Newsome, development control officer, said last year: "The chapel is important to the character of the conservation area. It is a distinctive building and part of Acomb's social history.

"The proposed residential conversion will bring a new lease of life to the building and provide homes in a very sustainable location."