A THEOLOGICAL college could be forced to turn one of its historic chapels into a concert hall or exhibition space because of rising maintenance costs.

The Grade I-listed St John the Evangelist Church, in Iffley Road is the largest of three places of worship entrusted to the care of St Stephen's House, an Anglican theological college of Oxford University, since it moved to the buildings in 1980.

It was built as the mission church of the Cowley Fathers, a pioneering monastic community devoted to social and educational work in the former slums of East Oxford.

But the costs of caring for the three chapels mean St Stephen's House has been forced to consider alternative uses for the grandest of their buildings, the Grade I-listed St John the Evangelist, built between 1894 and 1902, and designed by architect George Bodley - the man behind some of the buildings in Magdalen College.

David Garrard, historic churches adviser of the Victorian Society, said: "A college with three separate chapels is rare enough.

"Add to that the fact that one of these is a Grade I-listed masterpiece by the leading church architect of the late 19th century and you can see how unusual the dilemma facing St Stephen's House is.

"The college should be congratulated on having managed to keep all three chapels going for over 25 years."

Alternative uses being considered for St John the Evangelist include converting the church into a library or into a venue for exhibitions and events.

Mr Garrard added: "Any change of use must be considered very carefully.

"Ideally, we hope that the necessary funding to keep St John the Evangelist in worship use can be secured.

"If that is not possible, the church will have to be found a new secular role in the life of St Stephen's House.

"This will require great ingenuity to ensure that this Victorian masterpiece is preserved and kept accessible for future generations."

No one from St Stephen's House was available for comment.