A planning application has been submitted to turn Moulton Methodist Church into a residential dwelling.
Moulton Methodist Church on Bell Lane is believed to have been built in 1830 after around 35 years of the society founded in 1789 of having met in someone’s home.
But the planning application submitted to South Holland District Council states that the church is being closed due to just “two or three” people attending services.
The application states: “Moulton is an extremely popular village and as a minor service centre enjoys a diverse provision of community facilities and most of those continue to thrive.
“An unfortunate exception to this trend is the Methodist Church in the village where numbers attending public worships have diminished to just two or three local persons. It is now possible to hold only a monthly service, with insufficient persons to undertake essential church office.
“A leaflet campaign was undertaken just over two years ago with every home in the village approached, in order to try and encourage attendance or support.
“There is now insufficient income to meet the cost of ongoing maintenance and it is not a satisfactory situation for this building to fall into disrepair through becoming inactive and vacant.
“The Lincolnshire Methodist District Synod have carefully reviewed this situation and have given approval for its closure.
“Fortunately the village does have an alternative place of worship – All Saints’ Church is 150 metres to the south and there are also Methodist Churches in nearby Moulton Chapel, Holbeach and Spalding.”
The building is on the district council’s Local List of buildings with historic importance.
