MEMBERS of a church left without a permanent home for the past three years have said ‘miracles do happen’ after being donated a £1.5million building in which to worship.

In January 2014, Leamington Road Baptist Church left its building, near Corporation Park, which had been its home for base than 100 years.

After holding services at Pleckgate High School over the last few years, the church has now got a new location at Bethesda Chapel in Shakespeare Way.

Its name has also been changed to Blackburn Baptist Church (BBC).

The church is run by committee and has a congregation of around 60 people.

Paul Wicks, 54, is one of a number of leaders at the church, said: “The Brethren church which met at Bethesda Chapel was facing increasing challenges in continuing their work there and took the brave decision that it was not possible to continue.

“They had members moving away and numbers wise they thought it was not viable.

“In December, they approached us with a view to handing the building over as a gift.

“Both churches were involved in the decision and the legal formalities were completed very quickly so the building could be handed over recently.

“It’s an amazing outcome for us and I’ve heard members that our fortune in getting the building mean miracles do happen.”

Meetings for BBC in its new building are now being held weekly.

Mr Wicks added: “It was a time to give thanks for the past and for the kind gift of the former Bethesda fellowship, and also to look forward to the future.

“Over the three years, other churches in north Blackburn kindly supported BBC in various ways.

“It was a good experience to share together and BBC will be looking for continuing opportunities to work with the other churches in the future.”

BBC plan to offer a wide range of activities to the community in the near future.

It has already booked a Christian comedian, Andy Kind, for an event on Friday, June 9.

For details of this and other activities at BBC visit www.blackburnbaptistchurch.co.uk.

The old building opened in May 1895 after the site was purchased in Leamington Street, which later became Leamington Road, that was formally used by Blackburn Rovers.

The committee for formed three years before at a meeting at Montague Street Baptist Church.