A CHURCH building of "great community value" is set to be closed and sold off.

Southampton Methodist Circuit has revealed St Andrew's church in Sholing is due to shut.

The site, which hasn't been used for services in 12 years, is currently the home of several community groups which will be forced to leave at the end of this year. 

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Reverend John Hughes, said: "I can confirm that the Managing Trustees of the Southampton Methodist Circuit (who have legal responsibility for the building) have taken the difficult decision of closure and sale of St. Andrew’s, Sholing.

"The difficulties of upgrading St Andrew's to modern standards and the increasing cost for maintenance mean that the building is no longer viable and therefore the sad decision has been made to sell.

"No Methodist Church activity has taken place in the building for over 12 years but all those tenants and community groups who hire St Andrew’s were notified in June that they will need to make alternative arrangements from the 31st of December 2022.

"The funds released from the sale will allow the Methodist Church to focus its support of local communities across the Southampton Circuit."

Once the building is for sale there is nothing to stop any community group submitting a bid to purchase it, he said.

But councillor for the area, Eamonn Keogh told the Echo it is unlikely any of the groups would be able to gather enough money to do that. 

READ MORE: Holy Trinity Church, Millbrook, has gone on the market

He said: "This is a building that is of great community value. 

"The new community church are in the process of submitting an application to nominate the building as an asset of community value but this is likely to only delay the sale given any interested group would still have to purchase the building at the market value."

He said the groups that use the site are "desperate" for it to remain open. 

A meeting to decide what will happen next is due to take place at the church tonight.

Starting at 7pm, the meeting is expected to be attended by members of the groups and the local community. 

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