THE last Hymn was number 648 -- The Day Thou Gravest Lord Is Ended -- which the Rev Terry Young said was usually reserved for funerals.

And to the congregation packed into the humble church that is exactly what it was. A passing.

Tearful mourners gathered to say an emotional goodbye to Lower Darwen Methodist Church, in Fore Street, which yesterday closed its doors for the last time after faithfully serving the community since 1872.

A dwindling in parishioners, which saw attendance fall from more than 200 at its peak to fewer than 20, was blamed for the demise, although yesterday's final service, conducted by Mr Young and the Rev Tamas Sugar, was a time for remembrance and not to apportion blame.

Messages of support came from other churches and a message from Stephen Poxon, chairman of the North Lancashire District Methodists, read out by Mr Young said the congregation was the living church and its witness would continue.

Church member Jack Williamson, 66, addressed parishioners with his special memories of Lower Darwen. In the early 1900s, his grandad was the caretaker and his mother and father married there.

He and his brother Harold were christened at the church as were his daughters Susan and Anne and his granddaughter Katherine. And after burying his first wife Edna at Lower Darwen, Jack, of Sandy Lane, Darwen, found happiness again when he married second wife Helen in the very same church nearly a year ago. As a youngster, he was an organ boy stuffed into "the cramped cubby hole" behind the impressive instrument and he remembers the time when the church flourished.

He said: "I remember the church being full to capacity including the gallery. The singing would raise the roof and the choir was the best in the area.

"It has been a privilege to be included in the family of the church. It is a very sad day today, like a funeral."

The gallery Jack spoke of is long gone, as are many of the parishioners. Although for this last service past members made a pilgrimage to the place they remember so dearly.

Jack's brother Harold travelled from Bolton while daughter Helen made the journey from North Yorkshire.

She said: "I was christened here and I also married here. There are a lot of happy memories here for me and it's a sad day." Olga Barton, of Darwen, came to the church as a schoolgirl and began attending on a regular basis 23 years ago. Now 80, she fought back tears as the last strains of the organ signalled the end of the service.

She said: "It has dwindled and it is a real shame. The church has made me feel welcome over the years and it is sad it has to close."

In his service Mr Young likened the church's future to that of Christ at the resurrection. He said: "The new united church will need us all, everyone has a role to play. If anyone opts out, that new church will be weaker for it. As Christ rose, so we must rise."

The congregation of Lower Darwen will join the United Reformed Church in Sandy Lane and look forward to the first service next Sunday.

The church has yet to be put up for sale.

Artifacts such as the stained glass windows and organ are expected to be transferred to other churches.