MECCA — Pastor Ron McIlvaine said members of the West Mecca United Methodist Church have decided after much talk and consideration that the church should close.

The church, 1215 Greenville Road, will hold its final worship service 1 p.m. Sept. 24 with several guest speakers followed by a luncheon.

Scheduled to attend are the Rev. Gary George, assistant to the bishop of the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church and the Rev. Sondra Snode, District Superintendent with the Western Reserve District.

In addition, representatives of several other churches will attend to offer prayers for the church and the closing.

McIlvaine, who has served as pastor of West Mecca UMC since 2007 and also has been pastor at other churches, said the historic church was established in 1837.

”The church congregation has decided the only faithful path was to move into discontinuance and leave a legacy behind,” he said.

He said while the church had a growing congregation at one time, in recent years its has declined to below 65, with many younger families leaving and older members dying or no longer being able to attend.

”There have been many faithful members who attend. It is an older church and with less members it was decided it would be best to close,” he said.

McIlvaine said the remaining congregation wanted to hold one final special worship to remember the legacy of the church. He said any money remaining from the church will be distributed to local missions.

McIlvaine said the church has been in talks with the Warren Bible Methodist Church on Elm Road to purchase the Mecca church building.

He said the Warren Bible Methodist Church will ”carry on the ministries that have come here since 1837.”

The church participated in a 16-week study called ”Choosing the Faithful Path” studying the purpose of the church.

”After studying many options for continuing, we asked the question are we willing, able and committed to moving forward,” he said.

McIlvaine said about 70 percent of the weekly attendees were not financially and physically able or committed to do what it would take to move forward.

The church has been part of the Bristol Area Ministerial Alliance, which takes part in the second annual Hope Festival.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com