THE 19TH CENTURY Methodist church in Longtown is to close.

The church, just off Albert Street, has been serving the Longtown community since the 1840s. But after “sudden and extensive” damage was discovered in the church, the decision was taken by the church’s council to close it down rather than have repairs carried out.

Reverend Rachel Williams, minister for the church, explained further.

“The church building itself has some structural issues,” she said.

“The cost of getting it fixed was going to be more than the church could afford.”

But Revd. Williams was eager to reassure the Longtown community.

“There will still be a Methodist presence in Longtown. We’re exploring options.

“We still want to be in Longtown because it’s very important to be here, it’s just where that’s going to be.

Carlisle resident Malcolm Ward, who grew up in Longtown and attended Sunday school at the Methodist church beginning in 1946, has fond memories of the church.

“Churches are really the jewel in the foundation of any community,” he said.

“The Sunday school was such an important place for youngsters to attend on a Sunday.”

Mr Ward, who left Longtown in 1965, is grateful for his his childhood experiences at Sunday school.

“It’s what makes you when you get older. If you don’t have something like Sunday school it becomes much more difficult to get youngsters on the right path for later years. It prepares you substantially for life in the big wide world.

However, Mr Ward added that he felt it was the right decision to close the church, explaining that its location in a narrow side street made parking a significant issue.

Revd. Williams, who took over the ministry in 2016, agreed with Mr Ward.

“It’s been a hard decision. It really has. There are lots of memories tied up in the building.

“But at the same time most of the congregation feel it’s a good one to make, because it gives an opportunity for a new start, somewhere different, to become more visible and to perhaps move into the town a bit more.”