EAST Oxford residents have slammed a Church of England decision to sell their much-loved community building to housing developers.

The Diocese of Oxford confirmed an offer was accepted from Cantay Estates Ltd to transform Hertford Street’s Irving Building into new homes.

But head of the Friends of the Irving Building group, Jesper Ekelund, said the decision has left residents “phenomenally angry” after the Church of England rejected two community bids.

The 36-year-old added: “There is real anger. It’s made people feel quite worried.”

The Victorian school building housed Years 1 and 2 of the CofE primary school St Mary and St John until last year when all pupils moved to its main Meadow Lane site.

The Parochial Church Council of Cowley St John (PCC) oversaw the sale of the building, named after its former headmaster John Irving.

Father-of-two Mr Ekelund said nearby Magdalen Road Church and a community land trust put in bids for the site, with both proposing a mix of affordable housing and community space.

But Diocese of Oxford spokeswoman Jo Duckles said it was “bound by charity law to sell to the highest bidder” and the development will help tackle Oxford’s housing crisis.

She added the development would include property for a teacher, sold at a lower rate under a key-worker housing scheme.

Vicar of St Mary and St John Church, the Rev Phil Ritchie, welcomed the sale and said it would allow a loan for the first phase of the works at Meadow Lane to be repaid.

He added: “The PCC is the trustee of the school and it has worked closely with the governing body to promote the welfare of the beneficiaries of the trust – the pupils.”

Chairwoman of governors Sarah Franklin added: “It will go to fund long-term improvements at the school which will benefit all of the children of our catchment area for a long time to come.”

Mr Ekelund said residents have “lost faith” in the church and are concerned expensive housing will force the “beating heart” of East Oxford to disappear.

The Essex Street resident added: “The PCC’s handling of the process has been more hard-nosed commercial than Christian in nature.

“There are large question marks about whether the process was conducted correctly, in an even-handed manner and without prejudice.

“This part of East Oxford is very much a central point. Our worst fear is that the building will be knocked down and the site becomes very densely and arguably developed.”

The Friends of the Irving Building, which includes about 100 residents, united in December 2014 to list the building as an Asset of Community Value, granted by Oxford City Council last year.

Now it hopes to work with the PCC to reverse the decision or failing that, work to get the “best possible outcome” for the community.