CHIPPENHAM NEWS: A CHURCH in Chippenham is being forced to hire out bigger premises because its 'back to basics' type services have become too popular.

Minister David Slater is shifting his Sunday service out of the Station Hill Baptist Church for four weeks, starting on February 22, as there is not enough room.

This is the second time he has been forced to look elsewhere, as for a month at the end of last year, the 200-strong congregation met in Neeld Hall, Chippenham. And now, because of demand, he is booking the neighbouring town hall as well.

The Rev Slater believes the style of his sermons have helped buck the national trend, which has shown a marked fall in church attendances.

He said: "Our church has been at its capacity for the last 50 years but nobody has bitten the bullet and done something about it. Very often churches are not answering the questions people have lots are not even aware of the questions.

"But the most amazing thing is that churches have made the relationship with God so shatteringly dull. Services need to be more relevant to people and our customers are the best judge of that.

"It is back to basics. We must listen to people and hear what they want rather than just preach what we think they want to hear."

Last October, Mr Slater launched an ambitious bid to transform former Chippenham nightclub Goldiggers into a 750-seater place of worship.

It was the second time he had submitted a bid, but it was rejected after the building's owners, North Wiltshire District Council, plumped for developer Tribecka Land Ltd instead.

Mr Slater is now searching for another option, and is hoping for a prominent position in the town centre.

He said: "One difficulty with a purpose-built facility it that it may not be suitable for its purpose if our congregation continues to grow.

"I remember saying to the council, at the time of our bid, that it would be difficult to find something as suitable as Goldiggers. There is nothing in the pipeline at the moment, but when we find something it needs to be flexible."

The Rev Geoffrey Birch, regional minister for West of England Baptist Association, which covers Gloucester, Forest of Dean, Bristol, and parts of Somerset and Wiltshire, said one third of churches in the region had growing congregations, including Priory Street Baptist Church in Corsham.

"I think our churches are alive and are looking at more acceptable ways of presenting the Christian message to people in the community," he said.