ONE of the oldest members of the congregation at an historic church has likened its planned sale to losing her family home.

The pensioner, who did not want to be named, has attended Cambridge Park Methodist Church in Wanstead since 1935 and said it had become 'home' to her and dozens of other elderly people in the area.

But her 70 year-long association with the landmark building appears to have come to an end after the congregation announced plans to sell it due to a lack of cash to repair its badly damaged roof.

The woman, who is in her 80s said the decision has been 'very sad' for everyone involved.

She said: "I don't have any family left, like alot of other people there - and the church really is our family.

"The church is like our home, and has been for so many years.

"I had known that this was going to be the likely outcome for a long time now, so I've come to terms with it now.

"I hope it is used by another group who keep it as it is. It would be very sad for the building to go.

"If the sale is agreed by the synod we will all use the Methodist Church in Hermon Hill instead."