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Search the Public Notice PortalA church in Hexham will permanently close and be put up for sale at the end of next month.
West End Methodist Church, on Leazes Lane, has served the community for nearly 100 years, first opening in 1935.
It closed as a place of worship in Easter 2024, but continued to be used by various community groups.
The building will officially close at the end of April and be put up for sale imminently.
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Minister Reverend Gareth Sherwood said that 'it was sad to have to make the decision last Easter to cease to meet as a Church at West End', but church membership has declined, impacting the ability to maintain it as a place of worship.
West End Methodist Church has provided a space of worship for hundreds of people to express their faith.
Revd Sherwood said most church members have found new worshipping communities elsewhere.
"For the past year, we have done our best to maintain the space for the community to continue to hire the building, but this has proven unviable long-term," he said.
"The reality is that churches exist because of the volunteer members of the church and their donations.
"As church membership has declined, so has our ability to maintain our places of worship, which also means we lose our places of community. I would encourage anyone who values these community spaces to consider being part of the local church life," he added.
"They are places that, when done well, can offer spiritual advice and thinking, community, and aid to the neediest in our society.
"These are things that West End Methodist Church have offered over decades, being involved in the startup of the local food bank, seeing numerous young people going through uniformed groups, and hundreds of people be able to express their faith, as well as offering a space as people start their lives with a christening or wedding and as people leave their life on this earth.
"We give thanks to God who has blessed this place of worship for so long.
"In terms of the future of the building, we hope the buyer will keep a place that the community can continue to use. Unfortunately, with charity law requiring us to take the highest bid, our hands are tied."
Hexham Male Voice Choir has performed at the Methodist Church for decades, and will hold its last concert there on Saturday, March 14, marking four decades of rehearsals and concerts at the venue.
Musical director of the choir, Ray Taylor, said: "It will be our last concert there at the West End Methodist Church in Hexham.
"It has been home for the past 40 years and the church is finally shutting its doors at the end of April and being put up for sale.
"So we are planning a memorable concert – inviting past musical directors, accompanists, former choir members and our loyal audience members to join us."
The concert, titled A celebration of songs for 2026, will feature the ‘Anything Goes’ Quartet and some surprise performances.
Ray added that the choir has appreciated singing and performing concerts at West End Methodist Church over 40 years, and thanked the staff for their support.
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