Church won't seek saviour

Heyside United Reformed church

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A CONGREGATION will close the doors on their beloved church building after it fell into disrepair.

Heyside United Reformed Church, in Hebron Street, was the first non-conformist church in Oldham when it was built in 1900.

But a dwindling congregation of no more than 18 has been unable to foot the huge £150,000 bill to cover the cost of damage caused by dry rot in the roof.

A penultimate thanksgiving service took place on Sunday afternoon.

There will be a smaller closing service this coming Sunday before members relocate to their sister church, Shaw URC, in Rochdale Road.

Reverend John Piper said: "The building has been extremely well used by the community but its condition has been deteriorating over the decades, mainly due to water ingress and dry rot.

"The congregation at Heyside is now small and the cost of repairing the church building is way beyond our means. We have tried to raise the necessary funding but without success.

"Most of the congregation have belonged to the church all their lives and it is with great sadness that we have decided to close the building."

While the existing Heyside URC building was formally a day school, the church has its origins in Robbe Wylde's barn, Heyside. This was the first non-conformist place of worship in Oldham ­- the first Protestant church which did not "conform" to the Church of England governance ­- following permission given by King Charles in 1672.

In the 1980s Heyside URC joined Shaw URC to form one church worshipping in two places sharing a minister.

Secretary Brenda Bakes (78) praised the close-knit community in Heyside but said the ageing congregation could no longer maintain the building.

The church member of 47 years said: "My late husband started going to the church when he was born.

"Heyside is still like a village and everybody has always got behind us and helped how they can.

"It is a lovely feeling to know you can call on people.

"But the building is in disrepair. It has slowly been wasting away because we have not maintained it as we should.

"We used to be able to do jobs ourselves but there are so few of us and we are all getting older."

Heyside URC applied for several grants in efforts to secure funding after movement on one side of the building began causing great concern.

They installed velux windows in the hope of preventing rainwater from coming in but damage had already been done.

Brenda said: "It is just beyond us. The roof is high and the dry rot has made it dangerous. It is costing thousands of pounds.

"We have had to admit we can no longer keep it going."

Rev Piper added: "The land and building are being sold but the members will continue to be involved in the Heyside community as much as before.

"We will be walking around the neighbourhood with our friends from St Mark's on Whit Sunday, June 4, and we will continue to be involved in the Heyside Neighbourhood Council and the events it puts on for the local community."