A CHURCH building has opened its doors to worshippers for the first time.
The church, in Wesley Close, Sacriston, was packed to overflowing for its inaugural service on Palm Sunday.
The building is to be shared by two denominations - the Anglican congregation of St Peter's and the Methodist community of St John's - in what is thought to be the first joint venture of its kind in Durham Diocese.
Anglicans and Methodists have combined their resources over the past three years to plan and fund the £385,000 building, while retaining two distinct congregations worshipping in their separate traditions.
The church was dedicated for worship by the Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Tom Wright, and the Reverend Graham Carter, chairman of the Darlington District of the Methodist Church and president-designate of the Methodist Conference.
The congregations worshipped together in Holy Week, with separate Anglican and Methodist services on Easter day.
On Sundays, the main Anglican service will take place at 9.30am and the Methodist service will be at 11am.
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