THE Welsh Chapel in Westminster has been forced to close after 100 years due to a dwindling congregation.

Church secretary Emrys Williams said the cost of running the Ellesmere Port building was also a factor in the decision to close it.

Members will now be joining the Welsh Church in St John Street, Chester.

Mr Williams said: “Years ago if people in North Wales got a job in Ellesmere Port they moved here, like I did back in 1927.

“But now it is no trouble to travel in and go back home on the same day. Things have changed.

“All churches are finding fewer people are attending. The Presbyterian Church of Wales will now deal with the sale.”

According to Mr Williams the chapel was built by a group of people who held services above a shop in Station Road, Ellesmere Port.

Although the chapel had fewer Welsh members in recent years, there were local people attending the services who were not originally from Wales.

Mr Williams explained: “For some people in Westminster it was too far to walk for their nearest service so they came to the Welsh Chapel. Over the last few years we’ve been running bilingual services.”

He also set up a painting group at the chapel, which helped raise funds for the church, and that will continue to run at Westminster Community Centre.

It will start up again on September 2 at 9.30am until midday, running every Thursday.