A DORSET church which has been at the centre of the community for more than 200 years has been put on the market. 

The United Reform Church in Longham has been put up for sale for £675,000. 

The Grade II listed church and two halls were put on the market due to a dwindling and ageing congregation. 

Difficulty in maintaining the church was also blamed as a reason to put the church on the market, according to Revd Dr Romilly Micklem, convener of the URC Wessex Synod Trust. 

Dorset Echo:

According to Estate agent Proplistm, the property was constructed in 1841 as a church with white brickwork in Flemish Bond with yellow brick arches and dressings of Portland Stone.

It features Stucco work, a pitched slate roof and round-headed feature windows with arched recesses and stone cills.  

The agents say: “The main entrance is in Tuscan porch style with brick pillars and plain stone columns supported on three steps leading to the feature entrance doors.  

“Above the gable is a slender bell turret with a square base and an octagonal panelled middle stage with clock and an octagonal upper stage recessed behind columns, the top being crowned with a slim octagonal copper-covered spire.” 

It was home to Longham Community Preschool for around 60 years, which in March feared it would be made homeless when the church announced it would close. 

However, in June it was announced the school would be changing its name to Parley Community Pre School after it was told it could move into West Parley Sports Club in Christchurch Road. 

The last service was held on March 11, three months after the “heartbreaking” decision to shut down the church was made in a meeting. 

Historic England gave the building Grade II listed status in 1974 and before that, it was listed as a Congregational Chapel. 

The United Reform Church has churches in Wimborne, West Moors, Blandford, Poole Old Town, Parkstone, Bournemouth town centre, Iford, Southbourne, Lansdowne, Burton and Walkford.