ILKLEY’S All Saints’ Parish Church, a national Methodist art collection, a community enterprise and Ilkley Parish Council are in the running to take over the town’s Manor House Museum.

With less than three weeks remaining until the historic Grade I listed building on Castle Yard is due to close its doors, the options under consideration for the museum’s future have finally been revealed.

Owner Bradford, Council, which wants to transfer the museum and art gallery to community management, is inviting expressions of interest from the neighbouring All Saints’ Parish Church, plus the Methodist Modern Art Collection, Ilkley Community Enterprise, and the parish council.

All Saints’ was first to speak out about the museum on Friday, revealing it is considering the invitation to express an interest in taking on custodianship of the museum and neighbouring cottages.

Ilkley Community Enterprise, which runs Outside the Box cafe on Bridge Lane, has confirmed it has an interest in using the cottages on Castle Yard - which it has been using for its Arthouse project, providing arts activities for young people and adults with learning disabilities.

Bradford Council has now revealed the final report of a feasibility study carried out in recent months.

The study says the Methodist Modern Art Collection, a collection of more than 40 significant works of modern Christian art which tours around different places in Britain each year, is now looking for a permanent home and feels the Manor House may offer suitable accommodation.

The Council says: “There is a very strong chance that Bradford Council will be able to transfer the Manor House and Cottages to one or more of these groups in the coming months. This will put the Manor House and cottages in safe and sustainable hands going forwards whilst preserving community use of the Manor House.”

The deadline for the submissions is April 9, and an appraisal panel with representatives from the New Manor House Group will meet on April 13 to select a preferred proposal to go forward to the next stage.

Vicar of All Saints’ Church, the Rev Patrick Bateman said it was “early days” to be clear what would happen to the Manor House, but the church was motivated to express its interest.

He said: “We’ve looked very closely at the options and we’re prepared to explore taking on this challenge.”

Mr Bateman said the church is about the embark on the major development of its existing properties, and expanding its thinking to include the Manor House could result in the town having an ‘even more imaginative’ set of spaces for the arts, community and other other activities.

“I believe that these buildings could prove to be a wonderful asset for the future whilst also preserving Ilkley’s heritage,” he added.

The feasibility study by consultant Tomorrow Advisory surveyed options including ‘mothballing’ the museum, restaurant, pub, hotel, residential and charity use, as well as potential arts, office and church-run community space.

English Heritage was also involved in the consultation.