Friday, July 15, 2016

After a century of ministry, the once largest Methodist church in Virginia comes to an end | Faith



After a century of ministry, the once largest Methodist church in Virginia comes to an end | Faith:



GJ - Could this be a reason? Methodists are far from Wesley now.

NORFOLK
Thousands of souls once worshiped at Park Place United Methodist Church. Only a dozen or so gray-haired holdouts are left – the vestiges of what was once the largest Methodist congregation in Virginia.
Mortality and white flight claimed the rest of the flock. The remnants abandoned the 1,000-seat sanctuary long ago – they gather in a tiny chapel, down the hall from all that stained-glass stillness.
Now, the elderly congregation is calling it quits; Sunday was the last sermon for its retiring pastor, Steve Wall-Smith. Title to the property is being turned over to Methodist missions. Members will shuffle off into the sunset.


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