A TALYBONT church could be sold after it was closed despite a long-running battle to try and improve attendance numbers.

St David’s Church closed after a last service on Sunday, 29 January, which saw over 50 people attend, but Rev Peter Jones said despite several attempts to boost attendances, numbers attending services had continued to be low.

While Rev Jones said he was sad to see the closure of the church, he said it was hoped that services could eventually be reintroduced in Talybont.

He said: “The church congregation has been struggling for many years and attendance had fallen due to the ageing congregation and not enough younger people coming to join.

“The church finances have also been in steady decline and would not have supported the church for more than another year or two.

“It is important to say that the congregation of St David’s has worked very hard to keep the church going and it is with a reluctant and a very sad heart that I and the church council decided to close the church.

“It will be a great loss to many in the community, but it has ultimately come about because the community as a whole has chosen not to support the work of the church.”

Rev Jones said efforts had been made from 2015 to increase the number of parishioners attending services, but said meetings in July and December 2015 were poorly attended.

Despite that, changes were introduced to try and fit in with residents of the village, but that failed to have an impact.

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