A COMMUNITY church and hall will close with “great sadness” after 141 years serving Bromley Cross.

After a recent church council meeting it was decided that Birtenshaw Methodist Church and the village hall attached to it will start the process of closing.

The church opened in 1875 and the hall opened 13 years later in 1888 but now after much consideration both buildings will close next summer.

Assistant Minister Rev Philip Belli explained that the discussion for closure was initially had in 2004 but they have worked hard to keep it going until now.

Mr Belli said: “We have taken the sad decision to start the process of closing, probably in August 2017. This decision was made reluctantly and with great sadness.

“Whilst there are still of number of people attending regularly the congregation is increasingly ageing and we are finding it more difficult to find the people who are able to carry out the jobs and functions that are needed to keep the ageing building running.

“There is also substantial work needed in the building itself and funding that is all the responsibility of the church itself.”

The decision was made at a meeting earlier this month and Mr Belli said the people who attended were in tears.

He added: “Even the people who did not vote for us to close realise that it is the right decision.

“It may be that we still have a mission in the area in a different building, at this stage we don’t really know.”

The foundation stone to the building was laid in 1874 and the chapel was originally built in brick before a new stone front was put on in 1923.

The village hall which is attached to the church through a corridor is home to a number of community groups and organisations.

One of those groups is Bromley Cross Area Community Group who have held twice weekly classes there for the last 15 years.

Thirza Vickers, part of the group said she was surprised by the news.

She added: “It is very sad, we have nothing else that resembles a village hall in Bromley Cross.

“I know that it had previously been discussed about a building in Darwen Road being turned in to a community centre but it needed funding and as we are not officially a deprived area we could not get it.

“Luckily we have been able to find somewhere else to hold our meetings but it is still sad because we have been using the building for years.”

Other groups that regularly use the facility are theatre groups, yoga classes, craft groups, flower arranging, baby sensory and Zumba classes.

The church posted the news on their Facebook page and a number of residents commented on their sadness over the decision.

Mr Belli added: “All the groups that use the hall have been notified and we will work with everyone to help to come up with other options.

“We intend to keep up business as usual as much as possible until we close.”