A Congregation is preparing to bid farewell to the church which has served it for more than 100 years.

London Road Methodist Church, built in 1894 by London architect James Weir, is to be sold to developers and the money put into other projects in Brighton and Hove.

The doors will open to the public for the last time on May 21 for a celebration of the church's history before it is demolished to make way for flats.

Building surveyors Overton-Hart this week submitted an application to the city council on behalf of Brighton and Hove Methodist Circuit. It hopes gaining planning permission will attract buyers.

If granted, the church would be knocked down and a four-storey block of 18 one and two-bedroom flats, a caf and a shop built in its place.

Reverend Doug Hopwood said: "The building is not in the best condition and the congregation is quite small. There are a lot of other churches in the locality so it's not as if we are abandoning Christianity in London Road.

"The money raised from the sale will be used for Methodist work both in the city and maybe further afield."

Robin Dowsett, a senior steward, said: "There comes a time when you have to look at what the needs are and we recognise that those are very different now to 100 years ago."

The church, originally a red-brick building, was extended and given a Renaissance look in 1910. In 1938 the facade was clad in concrete.

Members of the congregation are moving to other churches and groups which use the building have found new homes.

The City Mission, which provides support for homeless people, is moving to larger premises at the Calvary Evangelical Church in Viaduct Road, Brighton.

The Brighton Theatre Group, which rehearsed in the building three times a week, goes to a new base in Kemp Town. Member Laura Jackson said: "We have been here for years and have lots of happy memories from rehearsing our shows." The application will be discussed in the coming months.