SAMPFORD Courtenay Methodist Chapel is to close its doors to parishioners for the last time on Sunday, March 9 as the chapel goes through the process of closure.

The chapel has been a part of village life for more than150 years. It has seen the number of parishioners attending fortnightly services fall to around half a dozen, and the members who look after the chapel have decided to go into the formal process of closure.

This will see the end of fortnightly worship in the village.

The Rev Philip Wagstaff, superintendent minister for the West Devon Methodist Circuit, said: 'It is not an easy time when discussions around the closure of a chapel building take place, especially when that chapel has been part of the community for a long time.

'The members have thought through this decision and we are going through the formal process of closure which has to be agreed by the Methodist church nationally.

'The members of the chapel are planning on attending chapels nearby and the circuit will explore ways of continuing the Methodist church presence in the village.

'The circuit offers as much support as we can to the smaller rural chapels, and the team there have done a fantastic job over the years and put in a lot of hard work to look after the building and keep things going.

'I don't yet know what will happen with the building.

'That will be decided during the formal closing process that is now being started, and we'll know in due course.'

Every year each chapel in the West Devon Methodist Circuit celebrates the anniversary of its opening, and this year's anniversary service for Sampford Courtenay will also be the last service held at the chapel.

The celebratory circuit service will be held at 3pm and followed by a tea.

The service gives the circuit an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the witness of the chapel over the years, and members have invited friends around the West Devon Methodist Circuit to join them and look back over the chapel's story.

Mr Wagstaff will lead the service. The preacher will be Mr Barry Seale, and Joan Bennett will be organist for the day.

All are welcome to attend.