CHURCHGOERS in Chorley will take part in a special service this weekend to mark the opening of a new parish centre.

The service will also celebrate the faith of parishioners as they prepare for the Millennium.

The Bishop of Blackburn, the Right Reverend Alan Chesters, will lead the congregation and dedicate the re-ordering of the church and the parish centre.

Facilities at the new two-storey building include a parish office, meeting rooms, a kitchen and toilets. It will be used for meetings, Sunday School classes and hospitality.

The centre has replaced the former parish institute on Park Road which was demolished two decades ago and features the original foundation stone.

The work followed consultation with parishioners about their priorities for the year ahead.

Rector of Chorley, Dr John Fenwick, said: "This is the largest single building project on the church site since the 1860s.

"Church buildings constantly evolve to meet the needs of the congregations that use them and it has been an exciting time adapting the church to be a centre for worship and sharing our faith at the heart of Chorley.

"We have enhanced the beauty of our ancient church building so that it can be appreciated by even more people, and we hope they'll want to come back again and again."

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