A CHURCH congregation that has worshipped in schools, a scout hut and a workingmen's club for three months has returned to its home after a £125,000 refurbishment.

St John's Church, in Nevilles Cross, held its first service in the renovated church yesterday, having met in venues around the community since March, including the Nevilles Cross Workingmen's Club.

While the Victorian church was undergoing a facelift, worshippers also met in St Margaret's Primary School, Nevilles Cross Primary School, Durham Johnston School, St Cuthbert's Hospice and the 19th Durham Scout Hut.

Anna de Lange, a lay minister at St John's Church, said: "It has been really exciting getting out of the church building and visiting the people of the parish and worshipping in these places.

"At the workingmen's club, we had a service in the concert room, with the bar behind the altar. We are happy to be back in the church, but we hope we will not lose what we have gained by being out in the community.

"We hope to continue to worship at venues such as the schools from time to time."

The refurbishment, which had been planned for several years, resulted in pews and choir stalls being removed, the level of the east end of the church changed and the layout reorganised so the altar is now under the chancel arch.

A sound and audio-visual system and new lights have been installed.

Mrs de Lange, who has worshipped at the church for five years and lives in Aykley Heads, said: "We wanted more flexibility for our services, and the building was in great need of redecoration."

At the refurbished building's first service, held at 9.30am yesterday, a hymn was sung that had been commissioned for the occasion.

The music for the hymn, titled As We Meet In Your Presence, was composed by congregation member David Lee, who named the tune Crossgate Peth.

The words were written by Martin Leckebusch.

St John's Church, whose vicar is the Reverend Barnaby Huish, was founded as a mission church in the 19th Century.