A CHURCH congregation is celebrating the completion of a £135,000 project to turn the building into a community hub.

St Cuthbert’s Church, in Low Etherley, near Bishop Auckland, has not undergone any major changes since it was commissioned by Bishop Van Mildert, the Bishop of Durham, in 1833.

The Grade II listed church was built for up to 200 people but now has closer to 30 dedicated regular worshippers.

However, instead of following so many other churches in decline by closing, members asked the parochial church council to invest funds in modernising the building which was topped up by a series of fundraising events to pay for the work.

Work on the floors and heating system began last October and phase two of the project which involved building an extension so the church can have its own kitchen and toilet facilities began in May.

Built-in pews have been moved to create a central aisle more suitable for weddings and funerals while a new moveable font has made baptisms easier to conduct.

Tomorrow (Saturday, November 4) the church will host an opening event, from 2pm to 5pm, with a dedication by the Rt Rev Mark Bryant, Bishop of Jarrow.

Displays and activities by community groups will include Messy Church, the history society, photographic club, Daybreak Nursery, schools, the parish council and there will be refreshments.

Churchwarden, Barrie Kirton, said the congregation worked with partners such as the parish council and Etherley Methodist Church to create a space for the community and has plans to start a parent and toddler group, luncheon club and coffee morning.

He said: “We started to talk about this five years ago because we had this vision and it’s taken us a while having to go through all the legal issues but when the heating system needed doing, that gave us the impetus to get it done.”

Mr Kirton said the project had involved the whole community – including members of neighbouring churches and business offering free services – and injected new life into the building.

He said: “It’s a relief to have it finished but we never missed a service – it’s been a community bonding exercise. We are delighted with it because it’s a lovely facility now and it has got a lot of potential for us to get out there in the community because it’s not our church, it’s the community’s church.”