Grosmont Methodist Chapel is presently on the market with a guide price of £130,000 and although as yet it has no planning permission for conversion to a house, it is likely that permission would be allowed by the North York Moors National Park planning committee.

The church will be sold by sealed bid and prospective buyers are being asked to send in their bids in sealed envelopes to Whitby chartered surveyors Bell Snoxell Associates Ltd between 2 May and 12 noon on 30 May.

Envelopes will be opened in presence of a solicitor in the first week in June.

There are some unusual restrictive covenants on it including those preventing liquor sales and gambling – though the occasional friendly game of whist or Newmarket would probably be overlooked.

But it definitely cannot be used as a public dance hall or for trade or gain on Sundays.

The chapel, of stone with a Welsh slate roof, was built in 1867 on land given with a thousand year lease by the Bagnall family of Sneaton Castle. Later, the freehold of the land was given by local shipowner Arthur Gladstone.

The chapel proved a popular place of worship and by 1875 the congregation had grown so large that a gallery was built at the back to provide extra accommodation. At that time it had a membership of 111, the second largest in the Wesleyan Methodist circuit.

In the 1980s the members raised enough money to refurbish the building including installing new windows and re-plastering and on its 125th anniversary a flower festival and a special circuit service was held.

But the congregation and the number of members have now dwindled to such an extent that the upkeep has proved too much for the handful that remain.

Janet Besford, who has written a short history of the chapel, said: "The few members who are left now meet in the adjoining schoolroom and will continue to do so.

"In addition to holding services there they also have monthly dominoes drives to raise money for the upkeep of the schoolroom. It's also used for a variety of activities including meetings of the Grosmont Wednesday Club and short mat bowling.

"The schoolroom was built in 1914 so it'll soon be coming up to its centenary."

Viewing of the chapel is set to take place between 10am and noon on 17 Mat and 4pm and 6pm on 22 May.