A CHURCH in Bolton is branching out again after its membership more than doubled.

The Bridge, formerly known as the Bolton Pentecostal Church, had a £750,000 refurbishment completed at its home in Bury New Road, Bolton, just six months ago.

But membership has continued to grow, and now the church has been granted permission to extend into the car showroom next door.

The church's 300 strong congregation was temporarily based at Canon Slade School in Bradshaw while the recent work was carried out, but now they are back in the church's own building.

It now has 800 members and is growing so fast that church leaders decided to buy the former RRG showroom premises next door, which went on the market a year ago.

Richard Cooke, aged 41, associate minister and operations manager for the church, said: "There was competition from local businesses, and there were about 50 bidders. RRG thought we had been good neighbours and were not a threat to them as they had only moved across the road."

David Harvey, assistant minister, said they would not have placed the £700,000 bid if it had not been for the support of the congregation.

He said: "This is funded by the people. Every penny comes from the church and members agreed to go ahead with this next project."

The redeveloped building houses a reception with coffee shop and has facilities including comfortable sofas, plasma television screens and a state-of-the-art professional sound system. Church leaders put their success down to an ability to diversify.

Mr Harvey said the church, which mixes modern, rock music with evangelical, energetic services, was successful because it challenged the conventional idea of a church.

He said The Bridge moves with the times to suit the current tastes of people while retaining a religious message.

Future plans for the church could bring see a bridge connecting the two buildings and further development on other sites.