THE future of a village's Methodist chapel is in the balance.

Grewelthorpe Methodist Chapel, near Ripon, caused a stir 135 years ago when its high-rise roof went up, with several doubters wondering about the wisdom of having such a skyscraper in the small community.

But now the chapel's membership has dwindled to just six and a public meeting was called recently to discuss the future of the chapel.

Now a development group has been formed to look at a range of possibilities for the galleried chapel and adjoining hall over the next two years.

Superintendent Methodist Minister for the Ripon area, the Rev Graham Sturdy, said he wanted to keep the chapel open.

The group would now consult with the Methodist Church's property committee, in Manchester, for advice on the chapel's future.

They were also able to offer expert advice on what was happening to other village chapels across the country.

Meanwhile, Grewelthorpe's chapel is being given a two- year trial period to see what suggestions the development group can come up with. But, said Mr Sturdy, if they were unable to revive the chapel or make the building useful it might have to close.

Mr Sturdy said he had been encouraged by some of the suggestions made at the open meeting.

"One possibility was the development of youth work in the chapel hall with the help of North Yorkshire County Council," he said and added that the Methodist Church was trying to avoid having to close village chapels.

Another suggestion was that the chapel and parish church should work together more closely. There was also the option of making more use of the chapel hall for meetings and other village gatherings in a community without a village hall.