A 307-year chapter of worship, community, and history is coming to a close.
The Stowmarket United Reformed Church (URC) has announced it will hold its final service in the current building on October 4 due to unaffordable repair costs for the building’s tower.
Brian Hewitt, secretary of Stowmarket URC, said: "Deciding to close has been a very difficult decision for the church to make, especially after the church having premises in this street for more than 300 years.
"However, it is just the building that will close, not the congregation.
“The congregation is conscious of the historic significance of our church within the town, and the local community will be well aware that, over a number of years, we have explored different avenues to keep the building open. However, it is now clear that we have to move on.
“It has been hard for us. This has been our church home, and now our members have to think about where their futures lie.”"
The congregation, which currently numbers around 41, voted to close the building at a meeting in April.
The decision followed expert advice that repairs to the church tower were beyond the means of the church community.
The building will return to the oversight of the URC Eastern Synod Trust.
Cllr Colin Lay said: "Like so many in our community, I was very sad to hear the news about the Stowmarket URC building closing this October.
"It is such an important town centre landmark, and I share the widespread hope that its great potential can be unlocked for community benefit in the future.
"While the building’s next chapter takes shape, I want to reassure residents that we remain fully committed to the health of our high street."
The church’s history dates back centuries and includes serving as one of Suffolk’s strongest congregational churches.
It was destroyed during a German air raid in the Second World War.
Following the bombing, services were held at the Regal Cinema until the current building opened in 1955.
In the late 19th century, the church had around 550 members and a Sunday school that drew more than 1,200 children.
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