A church which aims to celebrate and share the love of god is closer to opening its new facility in Dorchester.
Dorchester Community Church is set to open a new state of the art church this summer, with its exterior already complete.
The new building is located next to Damers First School in Poundbury and will be more than twice the size of the church’s current premises on Acland Road.
West Dorset District Council purchased the old church site in 2015, and the church's relocation has been a long time coming.
The building’s interior is still in development and once kitted out will include Wi-Fi throughout, a community café, a 140-seat main hall, facilities for the disabled, as well as for upstairs rooms that will be available for the community.
Roger Frapwell, who has been the church’s pastor since 2004, said: “This will be the first church up on Poundbury.
“We very keen to encourage people to 'try church' and have been developing different 'styles' of church on different days and at different times so people can explore their own journey and we hope that there will be something for everyone.”
He added that the church is very much ‘focused on the community’ and that he desires to ‘open-up’ the building for community use.
He said: “We are not just here for an hour on a Sunday as we see 'Church' to be 24/7.”
Mr Frapwell also said the new building, which is believed to have cost in the region of £600,000, will be opened up to Damers First School.
He said: “We are involved with the Quiet Space on Poundbury and very keen to work in partnership with Damers School next door. Headteacher Catherine Smith shares our own enthusiasm about ways we might work together, including involvement in a local care home, sharing facilities and supporting parents.
“It is ideal for parents dropping their children off and they can come in for a coffee or a chat.”
The church hopes to run a relaxed 'Café Church' on Saturday mornings, something contemporary with kid’s clubs on Sunday mornings, as well a bi-monthly intergenerational event called 'Connect' on Saturday afternoons and a 'Student Church' late on Sunday nights. It will also continue to run groups including its toddlers group, befriending scheme, youth club, tea for senior citizens and more.