COUPLES wed in two since-demolished churches are being invited to celebrate the replacement building by getting their marriages blessed there.

And elders at the Central United Reformed Church, Duckworth Street, Darwen, hope the offer will boost attendance by enticing people back.

Locals and people from as far afield as Nottingham and the Wirral have already promised to go to the special service on Sunday, April 21. It is for people who were married in Darwen at either Belgrave Chapel or Duckworth Street Congregational Church.

The 155-year-old Belgrave Chapel is now being turned into flats after ceasing to be a place of religious worship in the early 1980s. Its congregation moved on to join Duckworth Street Congregational Church. But this fell into a state of disrepair too and was demolished six years ago.

Churchgoers then continued worshipping in a hall until 12 months ago when the £150,000 replacement building was opened following years of fundraising.

Jean Yates, a church elder, said they hoped to show people who knew the two old churches how good the new building was. "We want people to come and visit us and be made welcome to see what a friendly lot we are," she said.

"We hope to attract people who might not have been, but got married in one of the old churches. The new building is beautiful -- we just hope we can fit everybody in."

John East, a non-serving elder at the church, said: "We are looking forward to seeing couples who were married in one of the old churches and to celebrate their weddings in the new church building." The special service is part of a 'celebration of weddings weekend' at the church.

On Friday, April 12 from 7pm the Ashleigh Singers will give a concert called 'An Evening of Romance'.

Then on Saturday there is a wedding exhibition and open day. The service on Sunday starts at 10.30am.