THE METHODIST Church in Rhos-on-Sea is to close after nearly 100 years, with its buildings to be sold.

Community groups which use the church ancillary buildings for a variety of meetings and rehearsals have been told they will have to find new premises by the end of August, as church authorities prepare the building for closure.

A spokesperson for the church said: “We are closing the church buildings because our congregation has grown older and smaller in number, down to about 40 now, and we can no longer handle the workload of managing the building as there only a few of us who are involved in looking after it.

“Coping with the high maintenance of the building has become too much of a burden, both physically and financially. It is very sad.

“Many of our members have worshipped at Rhos Methodist all their lives – a number of them were baptised there and their grandchildren were also baptised there.

“We are very sorry that our facilities will not be available to the organisations which use our rooms.

“They have all been contacted and meetings here will have to cease at the end of August when we will continue to prepare the building for our exit.

“The expectation is that the buildings will be sold.”

The minister of the church is Reverend Janet Park, who is also the Superintendent Minister of the Conwy and Prestatyn Methodist Circuit.

The Methodist fellowship within the town will continue.