Historic Spalding church put up for sale

Services at a Spalding church have ended after nearly 150 years, with the building itself now up for sale.

St Thomas's Road Methodist Church, built in 1871 and renovated at least three times between 1953 and 1996, is on the market for about £275,000.

Members of the church moved to Spalding's Broad Street Methodist Church on Easter Sunday, although midweek activities are still taking place at what was once known as St Thomas's Road Chapel.

The Reverend Frances Ballantyne, minister of Broad Street Methodist Church, said: "There is now one worshipping Methodist church in Spalding after St Thomas’ Road and Broad Street amalgamated on Easter Sunday, April 1.

"We await the future with excitement and enthusiasm as we move forward together in the development, both of mission to the community and worship within Broad Street Methodist Church."

The church in St Thomas's Road has within it a pair of memorial windows dedicated to Joseph Wilson, a minister at Spalding's former Crescent Methodist Chapel and a past editor of the Spalding Free Press.

Neighbours from St Norbert's Roman Catholic Church, also in St Thomas's Road, used the Methodist church for more than two years while St Norbert's was rebuilt.

The Reverend Alan Barker, superintendent minister for the South Holland Methodist Circuit, said: "The congregation of St Thomas Road Methodist Church joined with that of nearby Broad Street on Easter Sunday.

"However, our premises at St Thomas's Road continue to be used whilst being advertised for sale.

"When, in due course, the future of the premises becomes clear we will be pleased to provide a further statement.

"In the meantime, we are pleased that the work of the Methodist Church in Spalding remains vibrant and strong, with a warm welcome awaiting all visitors to our combined congregation at Broad Street."