From Florida-
With a dwindling congregation of about 40 members and a shortage of funds, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Hibernia, on Fleming Island officially closed its doors after holding its last worship service March 4.
The closing left some members surprised and upset, one parishioner said.
"The congregation is very upset about this -- they were doing everything they could, but it wasn’t enough … People were crying," said Anna Grass, who attended the final service. "Some of these people had been there for 30 years."
The church’s Pine Avenue campus includes an original Carpenter Gothic chapel, built in 1878 with its adjoining cemetery. The chapel is one of the five oldest wooden church buildings still in use in Florida.
St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church and the cemetery are on the National Register of Historic Places. As part of the restructuring, the Diocese said it will take into account the historical significance of the chapel.
"I don’t think that a part of the plan is to do anything to disturb the historical nature of that space," said Doug Walker, the Bishop’s deputy for advancement/executive director of Episcopal Foundation. "It is our intent to keep it as a worship space." In the meantime, the Diocese will maintain the church grounds and pay the bills for the church. "Typically, that is the case for churches that are unable to fund any of their current operating expenses -- the Diocese will pick those up," said Walker.
More here-
http://www.claytodayonline.com/ee/claytoday/en/component/fullstory/20120322_014_art_0/episcopal-diocese-closes-historic-st-margarets-church
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