A CONGREGATION left without a permanent place of worship when its church was bulldozed five years ago has celebrated the opening of a new one.

Around 140 people gathered at the newly converted St Andrew's Church Centre - next to the site of the original church- in Raleigh Avenue, Walcot, on Saturday for a service of dedication, appropriately enough in time for St Andrew's Day, which was yesterday.

Among those who attended were the Bishop of Swindon the Right Rev Michael Doe and Swindon Mayor Derek Benfield.

The church was knocked down in 1998, 40 years after it was first built, when surveyors deemed it structurally unsafe.

Houses have since been built on the site.

The new church, having been converted from the former church hall at a cost of £170,000, is built to last.

Rector of Parks and Walcot the Rev Rob Burles intends to open it up to the community. The developer Stratton-based Dean Jefferies Construction designed it with that in mind.

Mr Burles said that when the altar is not required a shutter can be pulled down, allowing the building to be used as a meeting place for local groups, including Guides and Brownies.

"I think parallels can be drawn to football. Why should a stadium only be available for 90 minutes every fortnight? The same applies to churches.

"Why shouldn't we be open during the week and on Saturdays?"

Although the Walcot Dome in Burghley Close has provided a home for St Andrew's for five years, Mr Burles said he is glad that the church is moving to more permanent premises.

Around £130,000 of the final bill was raised by worshippers through donations and fundraising.

Doris Moore, 80, one of the original members of the church, can remember the opening of the old building.

"I think it's excellent that they are deciding to use the new one for things other than just religion," said Mrs Moore, of Islandsmead in Eldene.

Some £4,000 of the money-raised came from coffee mornings many of which Mrs Moore hosted.

St Andrew's started life in 1956 from a workman's tea hut in Ashley Close.

It then moved into a purpose-built hall for a short time before moving to the church on May 3, 1958.

Concrete fatigue meant it had to be pulled down.

Mrs Moore, like other members of the congregation, is looking to the future. "I think the new building is really nice and modern," she said.

"I hope it will attract new members to St Andrew's particularly young people."

Kevin Shoesmith