THERE were tears after the Eucharist for churchgoers at a village mass between Whitchurch and Wrexham this weekend following its final regular Sunday service.
Around 50 people filled out the benches at the remarkable St John the Baptist Church in Bettisfield to hear a sermon given by the Venerable Barry Wilson, Archdeacon of Montgomery and Wrexham on the importance of change, using the same pulpit as used at its debut service.
The church, built in the 1870s and has been a focal point of the village and its surroundings ever since, will stop giving weekly masses and instead become a Pilgrim Church, meaning it will remain open in the care of a small group for people wishing to visit or hold a special service.
But while there was sadness during the day, Philip Jones, churchwarden, hopes the positivity taken from the decision to allow St John's to become a Pilgrim Church will continue and breathe new life into the building.
He added: "It was a lovely service because it not only looked back at the many years of the church but it also looked forward to what is going to happen now.
"We've got a good group of people who are going to take it on as a Pilgrim Church.
"That has to fill you with confidence because otherwise the church will have to close and they're determined that it won't.
"It's great they've come together so it can remain a hub for the village – we can still have baptisms, weddings and funerals.
"It's going to be a working church, it's going to be looked after and we're going to have at least six services across the year.
"There's an opportunity for people to come and visit now it's a Pilgrim Church; there are seven others in North Wales.
"There is a bit of tour that people can do if they want them and there is another opportunity as George Street, who designed it, his bicentenary is coming up next year.
"The timing on this is quite good but the difficulty is that people are hearing that Bettisfield church is closing – well it's not, it's just taking on a new life and the doors will always be open."
Built by Lord Hanmer in 1873, the church hosted its first service on October 11, 1874 – covered one week later by the Whitchurch Herald – and it was officially consecrated in 1878.
His descendant, Sir Guy Hanmer, celebrated mass as part of the service with his wife Elizabeth, Lady Hanmer and their sons Thomas and George, and she admitted she was delighted to know the church is still going to be loved.
She said: "It was very important that we as a family were all here.
"It's very sad, but equally, it's very good to hear that they're still going to use it as a Pilgrim Church.
"The church will still be very much loved."
Church committee members were joined by worshippers for a slice of cake and tea after the service.
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