PROPOSALS to remove the pews, pulpit and gallery from the redundant Methodist Church in Morwellham have sparked objections from some local residents.

The church was closed in 1998 and is currently for sale. A planning application for removal of the fittings has been lodged with West Devon Council by the Methodist Church property department.

Nigel Fish, of Morwellham, wrote to the Times stating the church, which was opened in 1859, was a Grade II listed building and all the interior wooden fittings ? including those in the application ? were included in the listing.

He said: ?The Methodist Church has been an integral part of village life in Morwellham for over 140 years, though sadly services are no longer held in the church.

?Nevertheless, the internal wooden fittings are especially good of their kind and it would be sacrilege to rip them out of the church.?

Mr Fish said many people in and around Morwellham objected to the application and had written to West Devon Council stating their objections.

?I feel many other people who know Morwellham, have visited the recreation centre, worshipped in the church, or attended the Sunday School as children, may also wish to write to the council objecting to this application,? he said.

Mr Fish said if the planning application were turned down he hoped someone from the Methodist Church might meet concerned residents ?to see if anything could be done? to save the building. ?It is a little gem,? he said.

With the ongoing application for Mining World Heritage Site status for Cornwall and areas of West Devon, including the Tamar Valley, Mr Fish wondered whether funding might become available to save the church if the status was approved.

The Rev Jeff Moles, superintendent minister of the Tavistock and District Methodist Circuit, said the church had closed because the congregation had ceased and there was no-one to maintain the building.

?People don?t realise the upkeep of a local church is the responsibility of local people ? there is no magic fund to help. The only way it could be maintained is if a functioning church was meeting there.?

Mr Moles said an offer had been made to lease the church at a nominal rent to the Morwellham Quay Trust, but although talks had gone on for a couple of years it was not taken up.

?Our desire to sell the building is so the outside will be maintained, otherwise it will get into a further state of disrepair,? he said. ?With the pews and lack of facilities it is not suitable for anything at present ? not even a church. The only use would be as a museum.?

Mr Moles said he would be very happy to talk to Mr Fish and other residents. ?But the only way they could keep it going would be if they were willing to go to church there, or willing to set up a trust to buy and maintain it,? he said.

At present an offer on the building has been accepted, but is awaiting confirmation of the removal of listing of the interior, said Mr Moles.