THE fate of a historic church will be sealed next month when residents are invited to "last chance saloon" talks aimed at deciding what to do with the building.
Volunteers at St Michael's Church, Rampside, have been trying to find new uses for it for some time.
Fewer volunteers and maintenance costs creeping into the thousands have made it harder than ever to look after.
Church warden Jim Webster, 60, said: "The church has been left behind and it's a lot of maintenance for a small congregation and a small village.
"It is built in the wrong place. When it was first built, it was the centre of the parish but now it is so far away from where everyone lives and, with an ageing community, it's too hard to get people here.
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"We are not saying it's the end, but we need people to come forwards with ideas which are practical.
"We have done a lot but there is a limit to what we can do. It is effectively our last chance saloon."
Despite the picturesque views and remote location, the church only has around one wedding a year and since the construction of Rampside Village Hall, many worshippers prefer to attend services there.
Mr Webster and his congregation have had many ideas, including turning the church into a music venue, an art space or building a coffee shop.
But all require money which the church does not have.
Mr Webster said: "We feel like we have done all we can.
"We have had a lot of support and I don't expect more. We have had lots of goodwill from the people of Barrow and other churches.
"The meeting is more of a plan and if people's ideas don't actually happen, we will shut because we haven't the people left to do the work."
If residents decide there isn't a future for St Michael's, a process will begin.
After a legal period allocated for appeals, the keys would then be handed back to the diocese, which would also try to find a use, seek to sell or even demolish the building.
The meeting will take place on Saturday October 8 at 7pm at the church.
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