THIS Sunday the regular congregation of St Andrew's Church will be gathering in a temporary place of worship.

Remembrance Day last Sunday had extra meaning for the packed worshippers who were remembering Britain's war dead and the happy times they had enjoyed at the church on the Johnson Fold Estate in Bolton.

For St Andrew's was closing its doors for the last time before re-building begins to create a new, modern meeting place.

Damp and a lack of hot water meant the church, built in 1934, could be used for very little other than Sunday services.

Now an ultra-modern church is set to be built around the shell of the old building and it will become a community facility, involving a range of groups on the estate - a move that will be welcomed by local residents and youth workers who have worked hard to create a successful community atmosphere on the once deprived estate.

The Reverend Paul Hardingham, who conducted the final service on Sunday, said it had been a time for reflection and thanksgiving.

"People were looking forward to the future," he said.

Around 60 people went to the service on Sunday and regular worshippers will continue to meet in Johnson Fold Primary School while the rebuilding takes place. "A church is its people, not the building, so St Andrew's will still live on among the congregation," said Mr Hardingham.

The building work is costing £400,000 and the majority of the cost has been met by donations and loans, and a great deal given by members of the four sister churches, St Peter's, St Andrew's, Smithills Fellowship and Barrow Bridge.

The fund is still £120,000 short, but Mr Hardingham is confident that will be raised.

He said the church would stay strong while the building work was carried out and that the new premises would give St Andrew's a new lease of life.

"When the congregation of St Peter's had to move out to the parish centre while building work was carried out it was seen not as a negative thing but a positive thing and the church was still thriving," he said.

Rev Hardingham hopes the new look church will encourage more people to visit and the plan for more clubs and activities will hopefully be a chance to make it a thriving community-based facility.

The new church is expected to open in the middle of next year.