A NEW church for families serving at the Defence Academy in Shrivenham will hold its official opening later this month.

St Alban's Church, which is located just outside the military college at Shrivenham, opened for its first service on Advent Sunday, November 28, following more than three months of building work.

But on Sunday, February 20 the church will be officially dedicated and opened. The dedication service will be attended by the two bishops of the Armed Forces, the Rt Rev David Conner of the Church of England and the Rt Rev Tom Burns of the Catholic Church.

The church, which is located near the base's married quarters, has been converted from a series of disused shops.

Previous buildings were bursting at the seams with 70-80 people but the new facilities will comfortably fit up to 200 people.

The former Roman Catholic Church of St Patrick's, also in Shrivenham, is being renovated to serve as a non-Christian faiths prayer room for the Defence Academy. It will have separate washing facilities for men and women and a shared prayer area.

When completed the prayer room will be the finest provision for non-Christian military students and their families.