IT COULD be the end of an era but the dawn of a new one if two town centre churches merge under radical plans.

Members of the United Reformed Church in Week Street, Maidstone, and the Methodist Church in Union Street have agreed to enter into formal discussions about joining together as a single congregation.

The non-conformist churches have similar congregations, the majority of whose members are in their late 50s and 60s, and have been working, and occasionally worshipping, together in recent times.

The United Reformed Church is currently without a minister, after the Rev Brenda Russell retired due to ill health in June last year. Minister Chris Esgate is based at the Methodist Church.

The two churches had begun informal talks about the prospect before Christmas. Now they will enter into detailed exploration about the possibility, before putting it to a vote later this year. No timetable has yet been decided.

Graeme Wyles, secretary of the United Reformed Church, said both churches were excited about exploring the possibility of merging.

“If it is right for us to do this, and we still have to explore it, then we will create a church in the town centre that has a membership of approaching 300, with a Sunday worship congregation approaching 200.

“We will have a church with one of the bigger church families in this part of Kent and probably Maidstone, and a spiritual and religious voice that is stronger together than as individuals. Hopefully we will have a stronger religious lobby through all of these things than if we remained apart.”

Richard Vincent, chairman of the leadership team at the Methodist Church, said there had been a unanimous vote in the church to enter into the formal discussions.

He said: “We are very much interested in coming together; we believe it is right for our faith and it is right for the future of our churches.

“This is an example of Christians saying it is time for us to get together and put on a united face.”

Both churches are older buildings, although neither are listed, and encounter the same problems regarding maintenance and upkeep.

But he stressed that the suggested merger was something which had been done in a number of places around the country. In fact, the Maidstone United Reformed Church is one of 1,600 local congregations, 400 of which are united with one or more other denominations.

The United Reformed Church was formed in 1972 by the amalgamation of the Congregational Church in England and Wales and the Presbyterian Church of England.

The Methodist Church was formed in 1795 when, under the leadership of John Wesley, it separated from the Church of England.