THE Bishop of Portsmouth helped worshippers to give thanks for more than 100 years of faithful worship - after they voted in favour of their church closing.

Bishop Christopher with members of the congregation after the service

The Rt Rev Christopher Foster led the service in the church hall of St Margaret’s Church, Eastney on Sunday 13 December – the church building had already been temporarily closed for safety reasons.

The Parochial Church Council of St Margaret’s voted unanimously to ask the bishop to consider closing their church building permanently, because it has structural problems that would involve spending £1m to put right, and to bring their parish to an end. They also agreed to close their church hall from January 1.

Worshippers have been holding services in the church hall since October after structural and electrical problems were found in the church building. The church has also been without a vicar since the retirement of the Rev Richard Smith.

The bishop thanked them for their faithful worship in the church for many years and prayed for members of the congregation. They are now hoping to attend services at other local churches.

He said: “We give thanks for the years of witness and of fellowship, for the dedication of lay people and clergy, for the dignity and courage you have shown as you have faced this difficult decision to stop worshipping here. Even as we face the loss that this day brings, we bless God and we ask God’s blessing upon us as we move forward from this day and this place, and find fresh places and fresh ways to continue our Christian witness.

“Thank you for all that you have given to this worshipping community through the years. Thank you for your commitment, your love for this place and your care for one another which has expressed itself with such eloquence in the last months as difficult decisions have been made. As, in this Advent season, you prepare for a new beginning as the baby Jesus comes among us, so I pray that amidst the sadness of this day, you may even now discern the new beginning that awaits you, and that in the months and years to come you will continue to flourish in your faith and your witness to Jesus Christ.”

Worshippers shared their memories of the church and what it had meant to them in the final edition of the St Margaret’s parish magazine.

Doreen Bath said: “Peter and I, with our three children, joined St Margaret’s over 50 years ago when we moved into the parish. We found St Margaret’s a friendly, lively church which gave us a warm welcome. Peter died three years ago, and I have greatly appreciated the love and friendship shown to me by so many people at St Margaret’s. Now sadly the time has come for St Margaret’s to close its doors – a much-loved church. We will all miss it a great deal.”

And Liz Bradbury said: “I first came to St Margaret’s over 20 years ago and I can truly say that parish and people have played such a big part in my life during these years. I remember with great fondness all those people who have supported me and my family during times of great sadness and also helped us to celebrate in happy times. The community at St Margaret’s has truly been a second family for me.”

St Margaret’s Church, Eastney, was originally opened in 1903, replacing a mission chapel created by the congregation at St James Church, Milton. More recently, the small congregation at St Margaret’s had been struggling with the building for several years, and none of the plans to redevelop the building had solved its basic difficulties.

An electrical inspection showed some serious problems, and a keystone in one of the windows had slipped, meaning that the building had become unsafe for public worship. Even if these short-term problems could be rectified, the longer-term structural problems would involve spending £1m.

The Diocese of Portsmouth will now apply to the Church Commissioners for permission to close the church and bring the parish to an end, which will involve a process of consultation. No decision will be taken about the future of the buildings or their contents until the end of that process.