Villagers are calling on the Bradford diocese to replace their beloved historic vicarage with a building of equal beauty.

Councillors and residents alike responded with uproar at plans to demolish the original 1864 building, off Halifax Road, in Cullingworth.

Despite the public condemnation, the vicarage was bulldozed last month.

The demolition had been halted once after Bradford Council officers stepped in to warn construction workers they had not given the required 28 days’ notice to raze the building.

This was quickly followed by a letter, sent by Bingley Rural district councillor Simon Cooke to the Bishop of Bradford the Right Rev David James, accusing the church of ignoring his and residents’ views.

He also claimed the church was motivated by greed — seeking to build another vicarage along with two cottages on the site, which they would then sell off.

But now the design plans for the new vicarage and “two affordable cottages” at the rear have been submitted, councillors want to ensure the village will get the best replacement for its treasured building.

Cllr Cooke said: “It was a sad day when they took the vicarage down and I hope whatever is replacing it will be as attractive.

“I think people are disappointed and my views are still that I think there could have been a better way.”

The Bradford diocese has always maintained that a new vicarage had to be built because the old one had become too expensive to run.

Chairman of Cullingworth Parish Council, Councillor Jacqui Guy, said the design plans for the new vicarage and two houses on the site had been discussed at a meeting on Tuesday night. She said: “The plans for the new vicarage are quite tasteful, however, we want it to be built using reclaimed stone because the vicarage was such a predominant part of the village and we want it to retain some of that.

“We do think that the two affordable houses planned to be built behind the vicarage is over-development of the site though, so we would want to see one of those homes go.

“I think there will be outrage for a long, long time about the demolition of the old vicarage. However, we cannot dwell on that, it is done, so now I think we have to make inroads into making sure the new one has as much impact on the village.” Cllr Guy added that at present just an apex piece of stone marked with a cross from the original vicarage was to be used in the new one.

Diocese spokeswoman Alison Bogle said the planning application for the new vicarage was submitted to Bradford Council on June 9 and a decision should be reached in eight weeks.

She added: “The diocese has done everything it has been asked to do in respect of submitting reports on trees, surface-water drainage and highways in support of the application.”