DWINDLING congregation numbers and soaring costs are forcing the closure of an historical Ryedale church.

St Andrew's, in East Heslerton, which was built in the 1880s by architect George Edmund Street, is facing official redundancy under plans by the Diocese of York.

The church has been at the heart of the community since it was built commanding congregations of up to 300 a week during its prime.

But in recent years numbers have dropped off, so that now only half-a-dozen people attend a service once a month.

The diocese is currently in the middle of the lengthy process involved in making the church redundant, which will involve consultations with villagers.

The Churches Conservation Trust has offered to take over the upkeep of the building if the process does conclude with the church's redundancy.

Church treasurer John Crossland said the matter was a great shame, but a necessary evil. "It costs £5,000 a year just to open the doors because of fees and insurance," he said.

"There will be people in the village who were perhaps married or Christened there, and it is a shame for them.

"But most people in the village now are people who have moved here in the last 15 years.

"They have very little interest in the village community and don't attend any of the services. This is one of the reasons the congregation has become so small."

Martin Sheppard, a spokesman from the Diocese of York, said the church could still have a future after redundancy.

"This means that basically it will no longer be an official Church of England place of worship," he said.

"If this course of action is taken the Churches Conservation Trust has offered to look after it.

"There is nothing stopping the church being brought back into use by the diocese at some in the future."

simon.horsborough@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 10:14 Saturday, March 09, 2002