RISING costs and falling congregations have left one of Herefordshire's small churches facing an uncertain future

Several costly problems were highlighted in the course of the quinquennial - five-yearly - inspection of St Michael and All Angels, Dewsall, including work on the timbered 14th century south porch, rewiring and, most importantly, the ongoing maintenance of the church.

St Michael's, a small church comprising of nave, chancel and bell turret with a shingled spire, is believed to date back to the 13th or 14th century, with a font thought to be Norman in origin, later cut down and embellished in the early 14th century.

"This is a lovely, much-loved church," says team rector, the Rev Peter Haddleton. "But St Michael's has only one service a month and a congregation barely numbering double figures.

"There are no simple answers to what is a complex set of issues.

"The gap between income and expenditure means that closure is a possibility, but not before we've explored many other avenues.

"As part of the South Wye Team, the future of the church relies on the commitment of people not just in Dewsall, but in the wider community, too."

Rural churches around the county enjoy fluctuating fortunes. Dewsall is at the moment 'the weakest link, having been the strongest in the 1980s.'

The South Wye Team Ministry team is urging anyone with an interest - Christian, community or historical - to attend the Annual Parochial Church meeting, on April 19, at Callow Village Hall.

TWO parish churches in Herefordshire will take part in a year-long project to increase the number of visitors.

Churches at Bredwardine and Weobley have been chosen from the many which applied to be involved in the scheme.

It is hoped that the one-year pilot project will lead to a tool kit, which all churches could use to promote their buildings.

Churches tourism officer Clare Phipps said: "Each presents a different challenge. Weobley is already on the tourism route so will need assistance in improvement, while Bredwardine needs more promotion to the visitors who pass through the Golden Valley already."

Clare is being funded for the next three years to help churches play a greater role in the tourist industry in Herefordshire and Shropshire.

Two churches in Shropshire, at Claverley and Acton Scott, are also involved in the year-long project.