Christchurch Methodist/URC in Great Yarmouth, which has been in existence for over 30 years, is closing its doors as a congregation. The church will be holding its final service on Saturday August 31 at 3.00pm to commemorate the mission and worship of the congregation over the past three decades. The closure comes as a result of the congregation lacking enough volunteer and financial capacity to maintain a building of this size. The current congregation was formed in 1989 through the union of Deneside Methodist Central Hall, Middlegate United Reformed Church, and Cobholm Methodist Church.
Despite its closure as a congregation, the Christchurch building will continue to serve as a Methodist building under the care of the Nofolk Broads Methodist Circuit. The church hopes that the building will evolve into a mission hub and community resource for the people of Great Yarmouth, helping them discover life in all its fullness and embodying God’s love. They are open to suggestions for the future use of the building and welcome individuals or groups who would like to partner with them in making this vision a reality. The closure of the congregation marks the end of an era for Christchurch Methodist/URC in Great Yarmouth, but the building will continue to play a role in serving the community.
Rev Judith Bell, Presbyter (Probationer) and minister for the congregation, invites everyone to join them for the final formal act of worship on August 31. She acknowledges the history and legacy of the congregation and the building, expressing gratitude for the mission and worship that have taken place within its walls over the past three decades. The closure of the congregation is a reflection of the changing times and the challenges faced by local churches in maintaining their buildings and sustaining their ministries.
The closure of Christchurch Methodist/URC in Great Yarmouth is a bittersweet moment for the congregation and the community. While it marks the end of a chapter in the church’s history, it also opens up new possibilities for the building to be repurposed as a mission hub and community resource. The congregation looks forward to partnering with individuals and groups who share their vision for the future of the building and its role in serving the people of Great Yarmouth. The final service on August 31 will be an opportunity to celebrate the past achievements of the congregation and to look ahead to the next chapter in the building’s history.
