Residents and community groups are being asked to put forward suggestions for the future use of a disused Bradford church.

Parishioners who worshipped at St Mark's Church, in Huddersfield Road, moved to nearby Holy Trinity Church in Low Moor last September because of dwindling numbers and a new Anglican church-share scheme has now begun.

And similar mergers are likely to go ahead across Bradford as populations shift and congregations fall in some areas.

The Rev Frank Sudworth, vicar of Holy Trinity Church in Park House Road, said: "The idea is that the two churches - St Mark's and Holy Trinity - become one parish, with the closure of St Mark's. The remnant of the congregation at St Mark's now worship with me at Holy Trinity. St Mark's has not officially closed yet and will not do so until receipt of a letter from the Queen's Privy Council."

Parishioners have until March 31 to make any representations to church commissioners, who prepared a draft public consultation scheme to declare the 130-year-old church - built with money from a local mill owner - redundant. Notices have been posted at both churches and vicarages.

Archdeacon for the Bradford Diocese, Guy Wilkinson, said the urban industrial revolution of the last century had changed residential areas.

"All across Bradford, a process of adjustment and relocation of church buildings is going on," he said.

People had the chance to say how they wanted St Mark's to be used.

"Future use would be almost anything that was good for the local community, such as a private trust or local community club or society, but it must be financially viable and self-supporting," he said.

"There is a churchyard around the building and that will be protected and maintained forever as consecrated ground."

Anyone with ideas can contact Mr Sudworth on (01274) 678859 or the Archdeacon, Mr Wilkinson, on (01274) 641337.