WORSHIPPERS have taken the tough decision to close their 169-year-old church in two years’ time.

Rising costs, an ageing membership and decreasing revenue at the Cinderford (Wesley) Methodist Church in Belle Vue Road have been blamed for the imminent closure of the Grade II-listed place of worship, which owes its existence to the mining history of the area.

The decision comes in the wake of several other church and chapel building closures.

Ellwood Methodist Church closed its doors after 141 years in 2016, closely followed by the 138-year-old St John the Evangelist Church in Coleford.

The last three months have seen at least four Wyedean places of worship close, with Lydney Methodists holding a final service at their 149-year-old Springfield Road church in July, and a final farewell being said to Cinderford’s Bilson Mission ‘tin tabernacle’ later the same month after 118 years at its Cinderford site.

Last month (September) also saw final services at Tibberton Methodist Chapel after 179 years, and Sacred Heart RC Chapel in Sedbury.

The congregation of Lydney’s Baptist Church, built in 1836, is also currently awaiting the result of a planning appeal in the hope of securing the future of their dilapidated place of worship, after vacating the building on safety grounds in January.

Gloucestershire Meth- odist Circuit spokesman David Bennett said the “reluctant unanimous decision” taken at Cinderford (Wesley) Methodist Church’s council to close the building was ratified at the Autumn meeting of the Gloucestershire Methodist Assembly and will now go forward to a meeting of the Methodist Church’s regional District Synod.

“The Methodist Society at Wesley Church in Belle Vue Road began way back in 1822 as a result of life-changing experiences to local people,” he said. “The present church was opened in 1849 thanks to local colliery owner Aaron Gould, who provided and paid for a resident preacher.

“Faced with closure in 1873, the chapel reopened eight years later in 1881, and in 2004 the Grade II-listed church building with its memorable stained glass windows depicting local residents and scenes was joined by members from neighbouring Church Road Methodist Church, and the two societies became Cinderford Methodist Church.”

The decision to close has been taken just four years after the worship area was completely refurbished following extensive fundraising.

Methodist Superintendent for Gloucestershire, Rev Dr James Tebbutt, said: “It is always sad to see a church building close and this decision has not been taken lightly, but sometimes God perhaps calls us to let go of places that have worked in the past in order for new possibilities to happen in the present.

“The church as the family of God will stay together, and are considering how and where best to meet after 2020 in order to be able to worship and serve in new ways in the future. 

“We shall think and pray about the future way forward.”