Conservationists have called for a historic landmark church to be saved from demolition following the submission of plans for housing on the site.
The Headless Cross Methodist Church in Evesham Road, Redditch, which was built in 1897, has been derelict since dwindling congregations led to its closure in 2009 and it was sold off by the church authorities.
Conservation group the Victorian Society is leading objections to a planning application for nine houses to be built on the site.
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Demolition, a formality for buildings not protected by English Heritage, was agreed earlier this year although not yet enacted.
But following the outcry, the building's new owner Phil Thomas has opened talks with Redditch Borough Council to see if the landmark church tower can be kept in a revised planning application.
The Victorian Society says the building is of great quality and designed by notable architect Ewen Harper, who was in Corporation Street.
Society spokesman Tim Bridges said it was a distinctive landmark.
"In our view, this former church, and particularly the tower and spire, is a locally listed building worthy of retention and should be sensitively adapted to a new use," he said.
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"The developers have indicated that reuse of the building would simply be too expensive.
"However, many similar buildings are successfully re-purposed and it is our understanding that the dry rot would be treatable. I would urge local people to object to the application."
Mr Thomas, who bought the site from the church, said that he was now exploring the potential for keeping the landmark tower.
"Demolition, which is not part of this planning application, is not a decision we are taking lightly," he said.
"We are now speaking to the borough council to see if there is part of the church, the landmark tower, which can be kept and incorporated into our development.
"But it will be a commercial decision depending very much on the business case."