A HEREFORD city centre church will be closing its doors as congregations dwindle, it has been confirmed this week.

The landmark St Nicholas church in Barton Road, just off the A49 near the river Wye, has begun the process of shutting down.

According to the West Hereford Ministry Team, the church had long faced a number of core issues such as dwindling resources, a declining congregation and difficulty maintaining the building. It was felt that a controlled closing process of around 12 to 18 months would allow the church to ‘end well’.

The decision was made by the Parochial Church Council of St Nicholas Church in May of this year after the options of continuing on as normal and attempting to grow the church were ruled out.

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The church council acknowledged that the closure may cause uncertainty and sadness but said the choice was not made lightly and that they had carefully considered all of their options.

The future use of the building itself is uncertain and will be worked out after the closure process is complete. Its next function will have to be ‘suitable’ and ‘appropriate’ for a former place of worship; many closed churches go on to find a new lease of life as offices, homes, event spaces or other community facilities.

After the closure takes effect, the responsibility for the church will transfer from the church council to Hereford Diocese, and they will work with the church commissioners to establish a new use for the building.

 For now, the churchyard and house will remain in the care of the church council until they are either incorporated into the building's new use or absorbed into another parish.