A church that has served its community for more than 100 years could fall victim to the Covid pandemic – and a bad case of rust.

Colehill Methodist Church, which first welcomed worshippers in 1913, is facing a financial battle only weeks after opening its doors following an 18-month shutdown due to the anti-virus regulations which closed churches across the nation.

With income lost during lockdown from the hire of the chapel’s large hall to community groups, finances were already under severe pressure. But routine servicing last month of the central heating boiler brought a further blow when it was revealed that rust meant it had to be taken out of service immediately.

Church steward Dennis Brewer said: “Without heating, as we approach the autumn and winter months, it means that we can’t offer the hall to local groups and we depend on that income to keep us going. The church has been a part of Colehill life for all these years and it would be so sad for everyone if we had to close our doors.”

For members of the Lonnen Road church, the hall has been the setting for coffee mornings, pancake and harvest festival evenings, Christmas teas and special lunches to raise money for charity work in Africa.

Local groups have used it for activities including dancing, children’s trampoline, keep fit, yoga, Pilates and league table tennis.

Some cash help for the church has been offered by the Methodist circuit under its funding scheme for churches hit by the pandemic closure but, to raise enough money to replace the boiler, the Colehill fellowship is now organising a Gift Day, on Saturday 4 September, from 10am to noon, with tea, coffee and cakes for visitors.