WORSHIPPERS have said a sad goodbye to their 179-year-old chapel with a final service.

Tibberton Methodists are off to pastures new and said farewell to the Old Huntley Road chapel at a packed afternoon service.

Built in 1839, Tibberton is one of the oldest chapels in the Gloucestershire Methodist Circuit area, but with just a handful of worshippers, the local congregation and managing authorities have taken the sad decision to close the building.

The congregation, which has close links with May Hill and Hartpury Methodist churches, plans to remain as “Methodists in Tibberton,” continuing the present pattern of united worship at Tibberton Parish Church and work in the community.

Monthly united services will be held at the Angican church, then on one Sunday afternoon each month there will be new style informal worship in the parish room.

Minister Rev Jayne Webb told the gathering: “One chapter closes, but this is not the end of the story.”

Local Anglican vicar Rev Canon Helen Sammon said the welcome from the parish church included bringing the communion table and cross from the Methodist Church to neighbouring Holy Trinity.

In his sermon, Gloucestershire’s Methodist Superintendent, the Rev Dr James Tebbutt said: “We give thanks for the life of the chapel and all the people who went before.

“With sadness we let go today, but we can also trust, for God is always present, and has a ‘new chapter’ for the time that is now.

“It’s about taking risks as we work more closely together, never knowing the full impact of the congregation’s life in the past or the present, but trusting that God’s love and purposes will be fulfilled.”

During the worship, which included Wesley’s Hymn O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing and a hearty rendition of Frances Jane van Alstyne’s To God be the Glory!, senior steward Peter Gardner outlined the church’s history which began more than 100 years after John Wesley’s life changing experience in London in 1738.

He paid tribute to the many ministers and local preachers who had led services over the years and also said Tibberton Methodist Church had achieved an ‘Eco Church Bronze Award’ as well as being recognised as a Fairtrade Church.

David Bennett, regional Methodist Circuit spokesman, said the “Tibberton experience” had played its part in the training of many new Methodist preachers.

“I well recall a wet and windy Sunday night service in the 70s when I delivered my first sermon. How that worshipping community blessed and encouraged my first tentative steps has stayed not only with me, but with other trainee preachers to this day.

“Indeed one of them, Gloucester-born eminent scholar, the late Rev Raymond George, went on to become the national president of the Methodist Conference in 1975. And only last month,one of our trainee preachers led worship there.”