At Scatriston, two churches have come together to build a new church to be used by both congreations, Anglican and Methodist. The joint project solves the problem of maintaining two elderly buildings. Gavin Engelbrecht reports that both congerations will maintain their trditions adn the new building is to be made available to the wider community for a variety of uses.

Members of two congregations have jointly laid the foundation stone of a new church building, cementing their relationship and putting down roots firmly in their community.

St Peter's Anglican and St John's Methodist churches are combining their resources to build a church in Wesley Close, off Front Street, Sacriston.

The "radical and exciting Christian venture" is seen as a new start for people of Sacriston in community and church activity.

The ceremony was presided over by Archdeacon of Durham, the Venerable Stephen Conway, and the Superintendent Minister of the Durham and Deerness Valley Methodist Circuit, the Reverend Neil Dixon.

The Archdeacon said: "This is a significant development, for it has Anglicans and Methodists working together.

"By building this church together, we are making a statement of our lasting commitment in working together in the ministry in particular, and our commitment to this community.

"We are building this church not just for the two congegrations, but as a meeting place for anyone in the village."

The church now under construction is on the site of the old Methodist church and will be shared by the two denominations.

The Methodist Church and St Peter's have served Sacriston for more than 100 years.

The fabric of the two buildings became difficult to maintain, so it was decided to replace them with a modern building.

The sharing agreement for the new church building is the first of its kind in the Diocese of Durham.

It allows both churches to own the building, while retaining their separate identities as Methodist and Anglican churches.

The Reverend Heather Taylor, of St John's Church, said: "This is very exciting. People have caught a vision that is bigger than bricks and mortar.

"When members of St Peter's saw the plans to the church, and they saw the vision, it took off from there.

"A little spark became quite an extensive flame. I am sure that Wesley himself would have approved. It is a sign of the unity of the Gospel and I think it will go from strength to strength."

The Reverend Ros Latham, of St Peter's, added: "We are planning to be God's presence in the community in the most effective way we can.

"That means having disabled access, having a modern building and having that building available for the wider community for a variety of events.

"We have slightly different traditions. We are preserving those traditions, while at same time coming together in a shared building."

Both churches are worshipping in St Peter's while the new building is being constructed.

St Peter's church will be in the care of the diocese of Durham once it is vacated.

Every effort will be made to find another use for the building, but no decisions have yet been made. The graveyard will not be disturbed.

The architects for the project are AHM Design Partnership - it is the first church building the company has designed.

It is being build by Newton Moor Construction where managing director Gordon Clough said: "I was born and bred in Sacriston.

"I was christened in St Peter's. We bought the old church from the Methodists as part of the redevelopment site. I am delighted to be involved in the construction of this church."

The £385,000 project is expected to be completed by April next year.