METHODISTS in Wear Valley are facing a shake-up which could result in the closure of two churches.

Next year, one minister will oversee all the Methodist chapels in Crook and Willington after the departure of Methodist Minister Linda Eccles, who church officials have decided will not be replaced.

A number of changes are being considered in an effort to slim down the number of chapels and churches the remaining minister will preside over.

Earlier this year, the Crook and Willington circuit, a partnership of chapels, asked North Bitchburn and New Hunwick Methodist Chapel congregations to consider closure.

New Hunwick, which celebrated its 125th anniversary last weekend, has already agreed to close, although the decision will not be made official until a meeting in the autumn.

Superintendent Minister for Crook and Willington, the Reverend Bill Middlemiss, said final decisions had not been taken, but they involved a lot of heartache.

"Over the last year, the circuit approved a small action group to look at the ramifications and our future. It is a painful process for many people," he said.

"Nothing is done without a great deal of heartache.

"A lot of churches have survived a long time after the revivals of the 19th Century. But Methodists still have a lot of chapels scattered all over the place, and whether we can maintain them all is something we need to look at.

"We are also in a secular society nowadays, where attendance has declined rapidly.

"Churches were often built to hold 200 to 300 people, but Sunday worship has changed, and it is not easy for small congregations to maintain churches when resources are so few.

"We hope we can get the circuit into some kind of size and shape we can manage."

Proposals also include moving chapels and churches into different church partnerships.

Byers Green Methodist Church has agreed to move to the Spennymoor Circuit next year, and the possibility of merging the Witton-le-Wear Methodist congregation with the Bishop Auckland Circuit is also being considered