Chard Street building has become too expensive to heat, say officials

Axminster United Reformed Church is to close – a victim of increased running costs.

Worshippers have agreed to sell the Chard Street building and upgrade the adjoining hall as a multiple-use venue for themselves and local groups.

Church secretary Jean Cleare said: “We are acutely aware of environmental pressures and the huge cost of heating our lofty church building in the winter months for about one hour a week. So for several years now we have used the hall for our worship from the New Year though to Mothering Sunday.

“This felt a big step at first, but now we have all realised the benefit of being in a smaller more informal space, and have grown closer to each other.

“We have set in motion the sale or lease of the church building and have an architects’ feasibility study agreed showing the modifications to the hall.”

“We want to offer the town good meeting facilities with a larger and a smaller room that can each be used during the week.”