New £2.5m church building opens

A Baptist church in Christchurch, Dorset has opened the doors of its new £2.5 million building, with total project costs reported to be over £3 million.

Christchurch Baptist Church, Bargates, has been planning and fundraising for the move since 2015. The church’s minister, Chris Brockway, told en why the move is significant: “Our previous buildings, though deeply valued and faithful to us for around 150 years, had become too small and no longer fit for the needs of our mission and ministry. In contrast, this new space provides both the capacity and a contemporary environment to support what God is continuing to do among us.” The church’s new site has 250 seats and is 60% larger than its previous location – a hall opposite.

According to Brockway, Christchurch Baptist Church has experienced “consistent numerical and missional growth” for over a decade. “This move represents an important step forward, enabling us – God willing – to nurture that growth in a space that better serves our vision and community,” he said.