WHELER Street Moravian Church Secretary and organist John Burkitt says his last words to his congregation will be " Go in Peace, Go in Joy, Go in Love" taken from his favourite hymn Onward Christian Soldiers.
The final service will take place on Sunday 22 February at 11am.
As reported in the Advertiser last week, Wheler Street Moravian Church has been an integral part of the Higher Openshaw community, since 1899 but a lack of funds and a falling congregation led to the decision to close down the church.
The church’s remarkable history was first written by the members of the Fairfield congregation who founded the congregation.
Weekly family services on Sunday mornings, in addition to Lovefeast and Holy Communion service take part at the church.
Their current red brick church building dates from 1929 and stands at the top of Wheler Street in Higher Openshaw.
Guides and Brownies provide activities for girls in the local community, while on Saturdays the church opens its doors for a Breakfast Club, run by the local residents.
Wheler Street is part of the unified group of churches, ‘Churches of the Edge’ (COTE) all based on or near to Edge Lane, and are also involved in Droylsden and District Churches Together (DDCT).
John Burkitt said: "Having been associated with the church for over 50 years, it is with great sadness and a bit of anger to know that the church I played and worshipped in is about to close down.
"But the highlight of my time with the church has been being a member of the first Moravian Boy Scouts, being voted on to the committee, being asked to play the organ and elected to attend a number of Provincial Synods. I also did not really find combining playing the organ and running the secretarial side, alongside other responsibilities a challenge."
John recalled when he first knew that the church was facing a difficult times.
"It first hit me that the church was facing signs of trouble approximately two years ago."
He added: "The immediate local community doesn't appear interested in the church apart from baptisms, weddings or funerals. The congregation has helped as much as they could in the circumstances.
"I am not sure if other local churches will close down for similar reasons, but some denominations intend to use a purpose built church building for them to hold their separate services.
"They are St Andrews (C of E), Edge Lane, Clayton Methodist Church and the local URC church.
"All this is a long way off as a new venue has to be built.
"They are known at the moment as Droylsden and District Churches Together. They are not "merging" in the true sense of the word but will worship in the same building."
John believes that Wheler Street Moravian church will be remembered with ‘great fondness plus the fact that two of our Bishops were originally ministers at our church’.
He added: "I only partly see this as the end of an era as most members shall continue at our Fairfield Church and who knows, some day we may return, God willing.
"What is next for me is to do as much as I can, playing when asked at our Moss Side congregation and once a month at an old folk’s home and attending Fairfield."
