It’s the end of an era for one of the oldest churches in Central Florida.  On Sunday, the 133-year-old First Presbyterian Church of Sanford held its very last service.

“This congregation needs to move to a different place,” said church member Cassidy Gleaton.

But for one more time Sunday, members of First Presbyterian Church of Sanford worshipped in a place the church has called home for more than a century.

“My parents got married in this church.  I was married in this church,” said Gleaton.

“There’s going to be a lot of hurting people here.  These people have been here literally since they were born,” said church member Tammy Rentsch.

At one time the church had about 1,000 members.  But over the years, the church’s congregation has dwindled down to only a couple dozen people.  Facing very expensive repairs to its 100-year-old building, church leaders decided in May to close.

“We made a priority decision that we could either put money into maintaining a building or put money into the ministry, and we chose to put money into the ministry,” said Pastor Hugh Lackey.

Churches across the United States of many different denominations have seen declining membership in recent years.

“A lot of the younger people don’t want to go to traditional worship services, and so we’re dealing with a cultural process here,” said Lackey.

“Some of the younger people moved into where other people go that have children,” said Gleaton.

The empty seats did allow the few parishioners left to become close.

“If there are just about 22 of you, then you get to hug everybody every single week, and the better you know them the more you love them,” said church member Valerie Weld.

But on its final Sunday, the church looked more like it did decades ago with dozens of former members coming back.  Some came to see old friends.

“I grew up in this church, so it holds a great place in my heart.  So I wanted to come back to say kind of goodbye, but not goodbye. Just sort of a farewell,” said former church member Bonnie Mathey.

Kent Rossetter, Jr., came back to pay tribute to the church because his grandfather donated bricks when the church was built.

“We hate to see it go, but time marches on.  Time for it to make a change.  We wish whoever gets it well,” said Rossetter.

The Presbyterian Church plans to sell the building.  Most of its remaining members said they plan to go to another Presbyterian church in Lake Mary.