A historic church in Wales has closed its doors after more than 300 years, following a dramatic decline in its congregation to just one worshipper.
The Tabernacle Chapel United Reformed Church, which dates back 305 years, once attracted about 400 worshippers at its peak in the 1830s, according to The Telegraph.
However, decades of declining attendance eventually left 86-year-old Mike Bennett as the chapel’s sole remaining member.
Bennett recalled that about 50 people still attended Sunday services when he was growing up, highlighting the scale of the church’s decline over the years.
He said, “I have been coming here since I was five years old, so I have found this, the closure, difficult. I cut the grass, I’m the general secretary, pulpit supply secretary, organist and, since Dawn Jones died suddenly in July, I took on her role of treasurer too.
“So, that’s another job that’s come on me. I just feel I can’t carry on with it alone.”
The closure reflects a wider challenge facing many traditional churches, as ageing congregations and declining attendance threaten the future of historic places of worship.
