Final carol service before Eggleston Methodist Chapel closes for good

A TEESDALE chapel is preparing to host its final festive service as closure talks get underway.

Eggleston Methodist Chapel will be holding a Christmas carol service today – Sunday, December 17. This could be the last service of its kind at the 19th century place of worship.

Superintendent minister for the chapel Revd Bev Hollings said the church council had voted “reluctantly” for the chapel to be closed. This decision was upheld at the circuit meeting and will now be passed into the hands of the district policy committee before the district synod has the final say. News on the anticipated closure is expected around May and follows the end of Newbiggin chapel this year.

Ms Hollings said: “We are seeking permission to close the church. It is partly because of a dwindling congregation and it is partly due to looking from a circuit point of view. It is about the best use of resources. There are other community facilities in the village. We feel that it is better to concentrate on the two main chapels in Barnard Castle and Middleton. This frees up people so we can serve the circuit better.”

The carol service will be led by Beryl Coatsworth and will begin at 2.30pm. It will include Christmas bible readings, congregational carols, Christmas poetry and musical items by the Bainbridge quartet. Coffee and mince pies will also be served.

Treasurer of the chapel David Bainbridge said: “The closure is due to the lack of people on seats.

“There is a dwindling congregation which has been happening over a number of years now. We get an average of nine people in on a Sunday.

“I shall not find a more convenient chapel to get into. I am disabled and it is disabled-friendly. I will not find a warmer chapel because it is extremely well heated and I will not get a sweeter organ to sing to. I will miss it considerably. I will have to travel to Middleton or Barnard Castle.”

Other chapels in the Barnard Castle and Teesdale Methodist Circuit have also been affected by changing times.

Winston Methodist Chapel closed its doors for the final time last year and Newbiggin Methodist Chapel held its last service back in May.

Meanwhile, the chapels in Cotherstone, Forest-in-Teesdale, Middleton-in-Teesdale and Barnard Castle continue to welcome their congregations. Staindrop Methodist Chapel is still running and ways of serving the community better are being sought.

Ms Hollings added: “I am always sad when we have to close a particular chapel. It is hard to lose that presence of a chapel building within a village. They have served communities well but life has changed in the years since the chapels were built. They used to be at the centre of the community. Now we have village halls and schools.

“As a place of worship they are still important but people travel for other reasons and people are tending to travel for worship.”