COLWALL Green Methodist Church will close at the end of January after serving the village for nearly 150 years.

Church authorities decided to close the building, known as the chapel on the green, in the face of dwindling numbers and an elderly congregation.

Rev Gordon Davis said he would miss the congregation, who had been trying to encourage people to come to the church but had very little response.

"They're a nice friendly bunch of folk who are always prepared to work really hard to make sure chapel life goes on," he said.

"They're all so positive. It's such a shame and a sad decision for them."

He added that the church's summer garden parties for charity had been a highlight of his time there.

At the Methodist annual cov-enant service, taking place on Sunday, January 18, at 6.30pm in the village hall, a special agreement welcoming Methodist worshippers to St James's and to Colwall Free Church, in Walwyn Road, will be signed.

Rev Davis said the covenant service is a Methodist service but for the past two years other church members had been invited and around 200 people attended last year.

The final service in the chapel on the green, which was built in 1858, will take place on Wednesday, January 28, at 7.30pm.

Mary Jackson is treasurer of the church and her husband, Bob, is senior steward.

"We're both sad that the church is closing," she said.

Mrs Jackson added that the future of the building was very much up in the air.

Because the church is a registered charity it must be sold for its market value if put up for sale.

Colwall Village Society and the Scouts have expressed an interest and St James's and Colwall Free Church are both interested in using the building for work with young people.

Over the past decade, the church has been refurbished, thanks to fundraising work by the congregation.

Improvements have included the replacement of the pews by chairs, recarpeting, rewiring and the installation of extra heaters.