METHODISTS are staging a celebration to mark the impending demolition of their Victorian-built church building.

Sunday's service of thanksgiving will mark the end of one era and the start of another for Carrville Methodist Church. Once the original 133-year-old building, in Carrville High Street, is demolished builders move in to erect a new church.

Members of the church congregation have rallied round in a lengthy fundraising process, which began ten years ago when it was decided an ancillary building was needed, including a church hall.

Around £240,000 was raised allowing the hall and ancillary premises to be built in 1995, and since then members have turned their attentions to renewing the main church building.

Regular coffee mornings, sales, flower festivals and other events have helped them raise the majority of the target, which has risen to £292,180.

But enough is in the kitty to allow work to begin on the 26-week construction process, which should result in the new church being christened early next summer.

Greta Hall, property secretary of the church building fund committee, said: "We have been waiting for the time building would begin and although it's going to cost a little bit more than we thought, we'll keep the fundraising going.

"It will be business as usual in the interim while work is going on because we'll just use the church hall."

Recently installed minister the Rev Alison Wilkinson will take Sunday's service at 3.30pm, followed by a 'faith' tea.