The Methodist Church made a surprise merger offer to the Anglican Church in a bid to unify in faith as church attendance numbers and finances plummet.

The President of the Methodist Church said: “We are prepared to go out of existence, not because we are declining or failing in mission. In other words, we are prepared to be changed and even to cease having a separate existence as a Church if that will serve the needs of the Kingdom.”

Despite a 200 year historical theological rift the two churches resolved their differences seven years ago in a bid to achieve “organic unity”.

A key factor of the divide between the two churches has been the traditionalist thinking of the Anglo Catholics and some evangelicals within the Church of England, who are strongly opposed to Methodism because women are allowed to hold lead roles.

In some areas this unification is already in place, Reverend Steve Tilley from Nailsea said: “At a local level we work very closely with all the other denominations in town, including Methodists, here in Nailsea."

Anglo-Catholics have warned that they will reject Anglicanism if the Church of England goes ahead with the consecration of female bishops.

But, Mr Tilley commented: “Well, whilst retaining maximum respect for the principles of Primitive Methodists and Strict and Particular Baptists I welcome this news.”

As church congregations numbers fall, and support for the Church decreases so does its financial resources, potentially leaving unification as a viable option.