A CHURCH near Whitchurch will be holding its last regular Sunday service after almost 150 years this weekend, as it moves to become a "pilgrim church".

The Parish Church of St John the Baptist in Bettisfield will be holding its last regular Sunday service on Sunday, January 8 after 148 years and it will be led by the archdeacon of Montgomery and Wrexham, Barry Wilson.

The church took this because congregation numbers have dropped since Covid-19 and the church found it was no longer able to raise the money to pay the parish share which led it to make the decision to apply to become a pilgrim church.

Friends of Bettisfield Church member, Philip Jones said: "We decided to become apply to become a pilgrim church.

"It is a church which does not have regular Sunday worship but stays open.

"People and passers by can come in and sit and pray or just enjoy the piece of the surroundings.

"The church does receive a lot of visitors during the year.

"We applied to go down that route and were accepted by the diocese."

The church, which is a grade II listed building, was designed by architect George Edmund Street and opened on October 11, 1874. Mr Jones said it is in a good state and will be helped by the Church in Wales.

He explained: "The building is in excellent condition.

"Normally it is little single roomed churches that get to become pilgrim churches.

"Villagers decided they wanted to keep the church open.

"The building will belong to the Church in Wales who will insure and provide funds through pilgrim church funds to do small repairs."

Philip added: "The Friends of the Church will lay on coffee mornings and art exhibitions to raise small amounts of funds to do minor repairs and pay for electricity and water."

The Friends of Bettisfield Church hope to use the building to host many events in the future.

Philip said: "We have an annual carol concerts.

"We had the Salvation Army band and that was brilliant and well supported just before Christmas.

"We have had groups and singers musicians come and perform in the church and that will continue."

He hopes people will come to the final service and share memories of the church.

Philip concluded: "We are hoping anyone who has memories of the church, be it a family wedding or baptism will come along.

"If you have photographs, please bring them and perhaps share stories of a family event in the church."