AFTER more than 150 years of service to the community of Stanford-le-Hope, a final meeting took place today (Sunday, 25 September) at the town's Methodist Church.

Because of substantial problems related to the maintenance of the building - and the adjacent church hall - on Stanford High Street, the church is relocating to hold services at the nearby Hassenbook Academy.

Today's final service was a Harvest Festival with all harvest gifts going to the Whitechapel charity. It included a welcome to the church of its newest member, (see video).

A historic view of the church presented as part of today's final order of service.

Stanford-le-Hope Methodist Church family will still be meeting every week in the Academy from Sunday, 2 October at 10.30am

A spokesperson for the church said: "Stanford Methodists will still be active. We are part of our great community. We just meet in a different place. Come, you'll be very welcome."

The final service today took place in a building where the foundation stone was laid in September 1869 by Mr W. Eve, a lay preacher and local farmer.

The building was extended and rededicated on 21 November, 1923 and its organ installed in 1928.

Maintenance and improvement of the building of the vestibule in place of the caretaker's house and further major changes took place between 1991 and 1993.

Th Methodist Church has not yet announced what will happen to the site and its artifacts, including the organ.