Heartbeat of village calls it a day after congregation drops to eight

In its heyday, the local Methodist Church was the heartbeat of the village with hundreds involved in weekly activities, from dancing to football.

But today the once booming congregation has dwindled to just a hardy core of eight worshippers.

And now after 125 years, the Church Council has finally decided to close its doors once and for all – due to lack of interest.

The Methodist church stands in the shadows of the imposing parish church, which is the village landmark.

But that did not stop Methodists making their own stamp on the once thriving pit village and playing an integral part in the famously tight-knit community spirit.

Roy Bloom is steeped in the tradition of the Methodist Church – his mum and dad worshipped there and he got married to wife June at the church on Wood Lane.

His oldest daughter Helen married at the church and 77-year-old Roy’s life is filled with loving memories of the once-great stone-built establishment.

“It’s a sad time, but times do change and we are left with only eight in the congregation,” said the keen fundraiser, who has just raised money for Bluebell Woods Children’s Hospice, Rotherham Hospice, Catcliffe MS Centre and kidney patients with a coffee morning.

“A lot of my family are connected with the church in many ways and over the years it has been a massive part of our lives. From football teams, to youth clubs, dances, meetings and outings, it’s been a big part of the community.”

The few remaining churchgoers are looking forward to celebrating 125 years of the church on October 22, which follows shortly from the very last Sunday service – Harvest Festival weekend – on September 30.

Roy said: “There were hundreds of people who used to go to church and be part of all the community activities.

“I’ve been involved since being a lad – I was at the youth club, a Sunday school teacher, organ pumper and am now I’m the treasurer. There have been many happy times here.”

The Methodist message was started in Treeton by William Moody, a farmer who moved to the village with his family in 1834.

Cottage meetings began and by 1850, there were 15 regular members, who had previously been worshipping in nearby Catcliffe.

At the time the move was said to be a “serious blow” to the Catcliffe society, which suffered a membership drop from 19 to five.

In 1884, a site for the chapel and Sunday school was found at the junction of Washfield Lane and Wood Lane in the growing village, which by then had more than 92 houses and 383 inhabitants.

But the grand stone buildings suffered subsidence, resulting in the Sunday School being shut around 40 years ago and the chapel being condemned shortly afterwards.

The chapel subsequently built has been funded by hard work, with dances alone bringing in 25,000 over 25 years.

Roy said: “It’s been a very very big decision to close the church down and the decision was ultimately made by the Church Council. There have been a few tears shed and it is a sentimental time.

“But it is hard work keeping things going with there being such a small congregation. From hundreds of people we are down to just eight and that really reflects the times we are living in.

“We have really been putting this off for a few years but I’m afraid now is the time.”