Hand in hand, the congregation at Cookstown United Church sang hymns for the last time.
For generations, families have attended the church, but over the years attendance has dropped. The difficult decision to close was made and now work is being done to move just up the road to the United Church in Thorton.
"It's going to take quite a while to get over this not being the church that I grew up in, and my family grew up in,” says Molly Couse-Kidd.
"My mom and dad were here. They brought me here as a young child. I was baptized here, I was married in this church, and my children were baptized here. This has been a part of our lives for so many generations,” says Frances Balodis.
The church was first built in 1878 and was destroyed by fire in 1914. However, the congregation re-built and the church was re-established one year.
The building was designated a heritage location two years ago. The facade can't be torn down, but the inside of the building can be changed.
The current owners plan to list the property next month and there has already been some interest from the commercial sector.
Their hope is to find another religious organization that can move in and take over where they left off.
