A CHURCH congregation is pleading for parish officials to reconsider a decision to call time on a key Sunday morning service.

Members of St Alban's Church in Charminster have voiced their objection and disappointment at the move to cease the 10am Eucharist at the church from the end of the year.

To make matters worse, the congregation say they have no service at the Linwood Road place of worship on Christmas Eve, which this year falls on a Sunday.

The church is part of the Parish of Winton, Moordown and Charminster.

Last month, the parochial church council (PCC) announced that a new 8am Eucharist in the lounge at St Alban's would replace the 10am service.

Penny Morris, member of the St Alban's congregation, said: "The congregation feel devastated by this news and the way it was portrayed to them.

"The age group are well over 60 and no compassion has been shown to them. For some, the main 10am service on Sunday is a life line, giving them contact with other people."

The latest change comes just months after an interim worship arrangement was introduced in July.

The interim arrangement included three Sunday services a month at St Alban's, with a combined parish Eucharist at St John's Church in Winton on the first Sunday of the month.

Fellow church member Susan Kent, added: "Many members of our congregation feel they have been cheated, deceived and discriminated.

"Some of the people who go to our church do not have any family. The church is their family and they look set to lose that.

"An 8am service just isn't a feasible alternative for our elderly members and they have been disrespected throughout this process."

Members of St Alban's had offered to pay for a priest to lead a Christmas Eve service, however they were rebutted by the parish wardens when they asked for permission to do this.

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Winchester said: “Following a consultation earlier this year, a decision was taken to merge St Alban’s 10am Eucharist service with the same service held at St Luke’s, a short distance away.

"The new arrangement will begin from 2018. This decision was taken in order to allow the parish to make most effective use of its resources in serving the local community.

"The consultation process was conducted properly, and its result has been supported by the Parish’s Parochial Church Council.

"We understand that some remain unhappy about the decision to merge these services and will continue to provide these people with pastoral support.

"However, we must be absolutely clear about the facts – St Alban’s is not closing, an 8am Eucharist service will continue to be held at the church, and it will go on serving the local community.”