THE final service of an 87-year-old methodist church in Corfe Mullen was held last Sunday.

The Rev Gwyneth Owen, minister of Wimborne Methodist Church and superintendent minister of the Christchurch and Wimborne circuits, said that there were mixed feelings at East End Methodist Church, on Wimborne Road, as it closed its doors for the last time.

She said that the congregation were able to balance the sadness they felt at the closure of the church, which opened in 1927, with a celebration of thanksgiving for the time they spent together sharing their faith in God.

She added: “We remembered that we have done so much within the church up until recently, such as the lunch club, fellowship group, and crafts meetings, as well as the christenings, weddings and funerals over the years.

“All homes are only temporary and so, while this church has been our spiritual home for many years, what is permanent is the relationship that we have with God and the faith that we carry with us.

“We have found that many people from the community have gone on to find other churches within Corfe Mullen which they now go to, and will also continue to meet in each other’s houses.”

East End Methodist Church needed extensive refurbishment work, at an estimated cost of £60,000, which the Rev Gwyneth Owen previously said could not be met by the congregation.

She also spoke of how nationally, the Methodist Church is looking at how people can best use local resources, including the number of church premises which are based closely together.

For more information, go to Candwmc.com.