A CHURCH is celebrating its centenary year by becoming a neighbourhood community centre.

Accrington’s Grade II Listed St Andrews Church, off Empress Street, has recently undergone a £50,000 revamp and will celebrate 100 years since the day the foundation stone was laid, with a special service tonight, given by the Bishop of Blackburn, the Rt Rev Nicholas Reade.

The Swiss Street church has also opened its doors to be used as a wide-ranging community venue.

St Andrew’s has already joined forces with Asian wo-men’s community group Aawaz to provide more varied services.

Father Lawrence Carson-Featham at the church said he hoped that other community groups, such as scouts, guides, cadets and leisure clubs would also come on board.

The church has only just completed the installation of a community kitchen after gaining a total of £50,000 in funding from the diocese, Hyndburn Council and national funding pots.

Currently the church offers three weekly services, a creche and Sunday School but the church hopes to soon cater to a wider range of functions and community celebrations following the installation of the kitchen.

Fr Lawrence said: “We are the only community building in the area in walking distance and we feel it is crucial to stay in the heart of the community. There is a fantastic spirit amongst the congregation, of wanting to get involved and stay involved.

“Now that the kitchen is complete, we hope to encourage more community groups to make use of the church.”

The church was built in 1912, at the height of Accrington’s textile ind-ustry success.

Though the church was partly paid for by donations from local wealthy mill owners, a large part was made up in contributions from the many mill workers.

The service to mark the church’s 100th anniversary is tonight at 7.30pm.