Another historic town centre church is set to close as congregations diminish.

Elders want to shut Christ Church, a landmark flint building in Grafton Road, Worthing, after recently spending £200,000 on urgent repairs.

Christ Church, constructed in 1843, was originally known as the Fisherman's Church, but may now be mothballed or sold off.

However, as one of the most important listed buildings in the town centre, and surrounded by a graveyard, it appeared safe from demolition.

The Parish of Christ the King has already decommissioned St Paul's Church, Chapel Road, and fund-raising is continuing to turn the 1812 property into a community centre.

The parish has now reviewed the future of its remaining three active churches, Christ Church, Holy Trinity in Shelley Road, and St Matthew's in Tarring Road.

A report to the Diocese of Chichester, which will make the final decision, said the ageing Sunday congregation at Christ Church had fallen to about 40.

A working party said there would be pain and sacrifice in the shake-up but in some cases people were too attached to the past and had to be more innovative and willing to take risks.

It concluded: "This is now a time to grasp the nettle in oder to breath new life into the parish."

The working party visited the churches, and found that St Matthew's, built in 1899, had close links with the neighbouring community.

Holy Trinity, constructed in 1883 and likened in the past to a cathedral, did not appeal to families, and a question mark was placed over the welcome it gave to young children "who may be seen or heard as disruptive".

A similar charge was levelled at Christ Church, which had a faithful but mainly elderly congregation.

The church had no hall and a great deal of work, imagination and courage would be needed if the building was going to have any relevance.

The working party said the grade II listed structure had only limited architectural and aesthetic appeal, adding: "We cannot see how this church can survive without drastic change.

"Out of the three congregations we found Christ Church the most negative with little vision and wanting to hang on to the way things are."

It had therefore been suggested that Holy Trinity merge with Christ Church, which would be made redundant.

Worthing's leading church historian, Robert Ellerary, said its proposed closure was very unfortunate. As for the future, he said: "A church is an auditorium and lends itself to public use, particularly music and entertainment.

"I think there is a future there."

Last year Shelley Road United Reformed Church was closed, with the congregation moving to St Columba's Church, St Michael's Road, which was renamed Emmanuel URC.