“I can’t imagine the pain and anguish that Lizzie was going through. And it pains us to know she was going through that alone.”

Lizzie Lowe’s parents loved their daughter unconditionally.

The teenager had confided in pals that she thought she may be a lesbian and feared her church would not accept her as a gay Christian, an inquest heard.

She was also wrongly worried about telling her parents about her sexuality.

In reality, they ‘just wanted her to be happy’.

In her final moments Lizzie sent a text message to a friend which concluded by saying “...stay strong. I am sorry.”

The text sparked a desperate search for the teenager - who was found hanged in the Millgate Fields area of Fletcher Moss Park soon after.

Lizzie was just 14-years-old.

Her death rocked the community, and prompted her parents Kevin and Hilary to back a radical transformation of their church.

(Image: BBC)

Although leaders at St James and Emmanuel, in Didsbury, say the church was ‘open and welcoming’ before Lizzie’s death back in September 2014 they admit that sexuality was not discussed for fear of ‘stirring up a hornet’s nest’.

Now the church has adopted a policy of inclusion, welcoming everyone regardless of race, gender or sexuality. It has gained new members from the gay community and even invited the first Didsbury Pride event to take place in the grounds.

The move has angered some parishioners and 25 members of the congregation left the church in protest. Leaders have even received abusive messages saying they will ‘go to hell’.

But team Rector Nick Bundock says the work the church is doing now is important and Lizzie’s death ‘puts everything in perspective’.

(Image: BBC)

“I wish we could turn the clock back,” he said. “I wish we could have done something ahead of that decision Lizzie took that would have given her the slightest chance to open up, to find a safe place to talk and a way of making a decision that would have saved her life.

“We had to change. We had to make sure this never happens to anyone else.”

Parrs Wood High School pupils Lizzie was a sporty and gifted young student who loved music.

She has been described as an ‘outgoing, fun-loving’ young woman who ‘enjoyed the love and respect of many friends’.

In an exclusive interview with BBC Inside Out North West, Kevin and Hilary have spoken about their daughter and the need for the Church of England to be more inclusive.

(Image: BBC)

“I can’t imagine the pain and anguish that Lizzie was going through,” said Kevin.

“And it pains us to know she was going through that alone.

“Lizzie’s sexuality wouldn’t have changed anything about the way we feel about Liz. She was precious to us. And we just wanted her to be happy.”

(Image: BBC)

Hilary added: “Absolutely not would it have made any difference at all. And that’s the sad part. The really sad part. We would have tried to talk to her and help her through.”

Kevin says the couple worry that a similar situation could ‘easily’ happen to another family.

He said: “It could easily be your daughter, your son, your grandchild, niece or nephew.

“We need to have these discussions to bring these things out in the open and talk about it freely and openly. It’s about accepting people for who they are, not who we want them to be.”

(Image: BBC)

Lizzie’s death devastated her local community - and completely changed the way her church has responded to the issue of sexuality.

Lizzie’s vicar Nick says before her death he felt the church was open and welcoming but he chose not to openly discuss the divisive subject of sexuality.

He said: “I felt, wrongly, it was better not to stir up a hornet’s nest about sexuality. If we don’t talk about it, people can have their progressive or traditional views and that’s fine and we won’t do anything to upset the apple cart, we won’t talk about it.”

Since Lizzie’s death the congregations have become more diverse. Songs are often signed and special prayers are offered for same sex couples who've married. It has also started a Youth Cafe for 200 young people where they can go to discuss any worries or problems in a safe environment.

Not all the congregation agrees with the new position on sexuality and church leaders have received abuse on social media and messages that they will ‘go to hell’.

Nick said: “I used to be someone who held a traditional view. I understand what we’re doing is in one sense a departure from what we’ve been doing previously…but you’ve got to remember we lost a 14-year-old girl to suicide. It doesn’t get more serious than that and that puts everything into perspective.”

St James and Emmanuel has joined with 11 other neighbouring churches to become the first inclusive Deanery in the Church of England. Its area Dean is gay and each church is sharing ways to welcome and support parishioners.

The Rt Rev David Walker, Bishop of Manchester, said: “What we can do in Manchester will show churches across the country and not just in the Church of England what inclusivity means, how you can really make something of it”

Lizzie’s parents have supported the policy and believe it will save the lives of other teenagers.

Hilary said: ”We gave Elizabeth the middle name of Joy…and she was our joy. When she passed away, so abruptly, so tragically, our joy left us.”

Kevin added: “We don’t want anyone else to go through what we’ve had to endure. Lizzie was beautiful in every way a person could be - loving, caring, very thoughtful. There was nothing to indicate to us what would happen.

“From the moment we wake up to going to bed at night, Lizzie is always on our mind.”

Lizzie’s story will be featured on BBC Inside Out North West on Monday September 24 at 7.30pm on BBC One.