RISING?maintenance costs and a dwindling attendance are to lead to the closure of a local methodist church with a long and proud history.

Downicary Methodist Church at St Giles-on-the Heath — part of the Launceston Methodist Circuit — will hold its final service towards the end of November.

The special service will take place towards November 21 when the chairman of the Cornwall Methodist District, the Rev Steven Wild, will be present.

Mr Clifford Nosworthy, the steward, from Little Downicary, St Giles, said the decision had been taken because of the cost of the upkeep of the building (pictured) and falling numbers.

"We were doing very well a few years' ago and it is a sad day. I have been associated with it for over 57 years.

"It is one of the oldest chapels in the circuit and has quite a history with it."

Currently, Downicary holds one service each Sunday evening at 6.30pm.

A Wesleyan Methodist Society was founded at Downicary in the second half of the 18th century.

By the year 1815, the original members were ready to build a chapel and secured a piece of land for the purpose from one Francis Northey, a yeoman of Broadwoodwidger.

LEASE

The land was granted on a 999-year lease for 10 shillings (50 pence) down and also an annual ground rent of one grain of wheat, if demanded.

The original cob-built and apparently thatched chapel building was completed in 1815 but succeeded by a new building on a nearby site in 1861.

It is within this building that members of the church hold their services to this day.

The former building can be seen in the adjoining field looking south towards Launceston (pictured) and has been used as a farm building.

Downicary was known as Broadwood Wesleyan Methodist Church at least until Methodist Union in 1932.

Although Downicary Chapel itself stands within the Parish of Braodwoodwidger, it has closer ties with St Giles, being just a mile from the village itself. This is shown in the close links with St Giles Methodist Church.

The chapel celebrated its 150th anniversary with a Thanksgiving Day on July 29, 1965, when the day included high tea for three shillings and sixpence (17 and a half new pence), community hymn singing and a sacred concert by the Mount Pleasant Quartette, with supper to close.

The Launceston Methodist Circuit website refers to the popularity of Downicary Chapel and adds:

"This is perhaps because of the lovely shape of the building, the intimacy of its interior, the excellent acoustics and a fine welcome afforded to every visitor."

The congregation is often joined by worshippers from other churches and chapels and, according to the website "you will be hard pressed to find another congregation in finer singing voice than the one at Downicary."