A NEW baptist church being built in Worcester should be open by January if building work continues on schedule.

The Red Hill Baptist Church is currently located in Cannon Street, off London Road, but will relocate to St Peter's Drive in St Peter's once the new £1.6-million building is complete.

The new church was started almost a year ago and will be renamed St Peter's Baptist Church.

Minister Martin Hodson said: "The builders are doing a splendid job and we are hoping it will be ready to use in January."

The church, which has a congregation of about 250, has been using Nunnery Wood High School for its Sunday morning services because the Red Hill chapel is too small.

Mr Hodson said the funds to pay for the new building had been raised over the last 10 years by donations from the congregation.

"When you believe in a project, it helps you to give generously and people have been doing that," he said.

He said the current chapel was more than 100 years old and had a small hall, kitchen and some small rooms.

"It's okay for running youth and children's clubs and holding meetings, but has restricted facilities," he said.

"Being able to use the school for morning services has given us the space to grow to our present size.

"We have not stopped growing and hope that lots of other people from the community come and join the church when they see the building standing prominently on St Peter's Drive.

"It is a superb location and it will be great to be in the heart of St Peter's."

The new site will include two halls, a lounge, kitchen, and multi-purpose rooms for hire.

Mr Hodson said it would serve the whole community with a range of activities.

"It will just be a real privilege to have some space of our own in comfortable and pleasant surroundings," he added.

The existing site, which is owned by the church, is currently for sale; the money from this will go towards the new building.