One final service as St John's Church in Stourbridge closes after 150 years - PICTURES and VIDEO
They came to share memories and worship for the final time at the church which has meant so much to them.
Packed into the entrance hall at the back of St John's United Reformed Church in Stourbridge were around 40 people, some of who had not visited for decades.
But when they heard its congregation would be meeting for its final Sunday service on New Year's Day, many felt they had to attend.
With just eight regular attendees and a growing list of repairs needed on the Grade-II listed building, the decision not to continue was somewhat inevitable, but no less upsetting.
Lay preacher Jon Syed conducted the final service which included carefully selected readings that reflected on the bringing to a close of more than 150 years of worship at the church.
After reading Psalm 84, Longing for God's House, he told the expanded congregation: "There is a saying that God's house is not everything - but what is important is the nearness to God. That is what is important.
"So we lose a building but God is always with us. That is the important bit."
Among those who attended the service having not been to the church for decades were mother and daughter Marion Wass and Pat Sinclair.
Both were married at St John's - in 1951 and 1973 respectively - and Marion was for a time the church organist during the 1950s.
"Everything went on here, all the clubs. My brother and I ran a youth club from the hut out the back of the church and it was wonderful."
In recent years St John's - which is visible from the Stourbridge ring road - has continued to a play a key role at the heart of the town's community.
Black Country Radio has been based there since it first went to air in 2008 and only moved out to new premises at the Waterfront, Brierley Hill, in recent weeks.
Rainbows and Guides continue to meet weekly at St John's and the Black Country Foodbank also calls the church home.
Mr Syed, aged 76, of Amblecote, said the surviving members of the congregation will now look to join others nearby.
He added: "The main problem we have had is people getting older and passing away. That has really reduced our numbers.
"It is those churches which have young people which flourish and many still get well over 100 people at Sunday services, but we haven't had that here unfortunately.
"As for the future of the building I don't think we will get the point where it is boarded-up and left.
"There are people doing their level best to create a community hub here where things can continue to happen. That is what I would like to see now."
