WORSHIPPERS brought the curtain down on nearly a century and a half of worship at their town church with a final service on Sunday.

Lydney Methodists are relocating to the Springs and Watermead Centre on South Road owing to rising bills and maintenance issues at their Springfield Road church, built as a chapel in 1869 for just £110.

Minister Rev Michelle Ireland said: “Although the relocating is tinged with sadness, as the much-loved and well-used chapel closes, there is also a great sense of anticipation and excitement as together we pursue this new opportunity of serving the Lydney community.”

And she is appealing for families whose ancestors and relatives donated items to the chapel to come forward to claim dedication plaques.

“The move has meant that everything has to find a new home, from the pulpit and pews to the last tea spoon,” she said.

“Every effort is being made to track members of families who have donated items throughout its 149-year history. Many of the items have dedication plaques attached.

“In particular we are searching for the families of Charles Edwin Phelps, Mary Care Watts, Mary Elizabeth Stubbings, Belinda Chivers, Jack Jones (item presented by Watts Factors directors) and Thomas Bowen.

“The Methodist Church in Lydney has been a place of worship and renewal for many people over the years. It is our hope, as the congregation moves to its new home of worship, that many of the beloved items will find a suitable home themselves, and will be dearly treasured.”

The decision on what to do with the existing building rests with the Methodist Circuit of Gloucestershire. Once it is vacated it is thought it will be put up for sale.

Another old place of worship, Lydney Baptist Chapel, was vacated by its congregation last January, after 182 years of worship there, with services moving to the Victoria Centre on Victoria Street.

The congregation’s plan to part-convert the Grade II-listed chapel into flats in a bid to pay for the dilapidated building’s restoration was rejected last year by Forest planners, and worshippers are currently appealing the decision.

If you can help in the search for ancesters and relatives with plaques at the Methodist chapel, contact [email protected] or 07730 896844.

The next service is this Sunday (July 8) at 11am in the Springs Community room.