After 203 years as a place of worship, Bolton Methodist Chapel has hosted its final service and closed its doors for the last time.
The chapel at Bolton, in the Kirkby Stephen, Appleby and Tebay circuit, has closed following the deaths of the treasurer and organist David Heath; church steward May Forrester; and its last remaining member Lorna Graham.
The decision over what will happen to the historic building will now go to the district synod with local minister the Rev Andrew Stirling saying it is unlikely to be bought by another church and could instead be turned into a private home in the future.
Methodism was first established in Bolton in 1803, when services were held in the farmhouse at the crossroads, then known as Gilflosh, and later as Elm House, home of the Dent family.
The chapel was built in 1818 on land gifted by the Dent family and it underwent major renovation in 1926.
Several members of the Dent family attended the final service, held in January, among a congregation of around 30 — many of whom had grown up with the chapel in their lives.
This included the last couple to be married in the church, who wed in 1978, along with people coming from all over the north of England for the service.
Speaking to the Herald about the closure, Mr Stirling said: “It’s sad, it’s very sad, the place is historic in lots of ways for the village but we have to recognise the changes in the community — there’s now a village hall and church and lots of things going on with the school.
“In many of our chapels over time attendance has been going down.
“When there were no members left we felt there was no possibility of keeping it open.
“Closing it was looked at just over a decade ago but they managed to gain some members and keep it going, but it’s become difficult as time has gone on.
“It has never been an easy decision because of its history, but there are always possibilities for new things to happen and there’s still hope for a Methodist presence to be felt in the community.”
Since its official closure, three new members from the village have actually joined the chapel but instead will go to worship at the Methodist chapel in Kings Meaburn, which is their closest option.
“It does help the community of Kings Meaburn in that they are a small congregation so to give them new members will keep them open and going longer so it’s hope and life to another chapel,” he added.
In the final service Mr Stirling acknowledged the sadness of the occasion, but also expressed gratitude to God for all that had been achieved during the chapel’s 203 years of worship, work and witness.
Despite singing through masks, a joyful noise was made through hymns that included Now thank we all our God, Great is thy faithfulness, and This, this is the God we adore.
The organist for the service was the Rev Jackie Betts, a former superintendent of the circuit.
A feature of the occasion was the minister offering short prayers at different points in the chapel, followed in each case by an opportunity for members of the congregation to share personal memories.
These came from people who had been baptised and married in the chapel, and had attended Sunday school and other services there.
The sermon called for recognition that ultimately the Kingdom of God is not built with bricks, but with lives changed through faith in the God who provides for all — in the past, present and future.
