ELLWOOD Methodist Church near Coleford is closing this Sunday (June 19) after more than 141 years.

It’s understood an increasingly older declining congregation, along with urgent repair costs, are the reasons for the closure.

A service of thanksgiving at 3.30pm will be conducted by Rev Heather Upton and Gloucestershire Metho­dist Circuit Superintendent, Rev Dr James Tebbutt will give a short address and also bring greetings from the wider Methodist Circuit.

Dr Tebbutt said: “While this is a sad occasion, we give thanks for the witness of this congregation in the past, present and future. Clearly this congregation has prayed much and thought long and hard, so let us rejoice in the past and go forward in the future.”

Methodist witness in the area goes back to 1830 and the current Methodist Church built in 1875 was called “Providence”, costing just £469.9s.1d plus £33 to buy the land for the cemetery. 

Attendance in 1879 was 230 with 196 paying pew rent. There were 50 free seats and the Sunday School had 18 teachers and 175 scholars. In 1881 it cost 2s 6d to get married and £1 and seven shillings to be buried.