Final decision to shut down church

A CHURCH in Mirfield will close for good because of structural problems.

Battyeford Methodist Church, Nab Lane, has been shut for two years.

Now a decision has been made by the Dewsbury and Mirfield Methodist Circuit not to re-open the building.

Circuit superintendent the Rev Michael Stopford said the decision had not been taken lightly.

The cost of repairing the building was beyond the reach of the 25 members in the congregation, he said.

Worshippers have been using the lower chapel of the nearby Community of the Resurrection and joining St Andrew's Methodist Church at Old Bank Road.

* McKenzie Methodist Church in Batley Carr will close on its 166th anniversary on June 27 because of a fall in the number of regular members.