A CHURCH’S 12-year search for its own home will end at the weekend when it officially launches a £1.5m facility in a former chemical factory.

Emmanuel Church Durham was founded in 1980 and for 17 years Sunday meetings were held in a now long-disappeared carpet factory, in Durham city centre.

In 1997, meetings moved to Durham Sixth Form Centre, but leaders and members have been on the lookout for a potential new base – a building the church could call its own.

They finally settled on a former chemicals factory on Belmont Industrial Estate, Durham.

Following six months of building work the Emmanuel Church at The Durham Centre will be officially launched with a celebration service on Easter Sunday (April 12), from 10.30am.

Pastor Alan Bell said: "This is the fulfilment of our dream that the church would have its own base. After 12 years of actively seeking a permanent home, we’re delighted to be here.

"It’s wonderful to be able to look to the development of the church from The Durham Centre, which provides us with a facility for a growing congregation, with plenty of space to relax, socialise and meet with God."

A total of 996,000 pounds of the 1.5million needed for the project has come in gifts and interest-free loans from about 100 people in the church.

Emmanuel Church Sunday meetings attract about 170 people, travelling from as far as Wolsingham and Wingate and Washington and Consett.

The Durham Centre is situated close to the A1(M) Belmont junction, it has a 300-seat auditorium and other spaces including a 70-seat boardroom.

Buses are provided between Durham and The Durham Centre.

To promote the Easter Sunday launch, the church has distributed 35,000 leaflets across the Durham area.

Mr Bell said: "In the sixth form centre, the church grew so that we had to have two meetings. We’re now able to worship together as one.

"But we look to the time when we will need to have more meetings again, as the church grows further."

Emmanuel Church has strong international links, with friendships established with churches in India and Albania. It also supports Christians Against Poverty, a debt counselling service run from its church shop – Beyond Ourselves, on Front Street, Framwellgate Moor.

A warm welcome awaits visitors on Easter Sunday or to any other meeting. For more information, see www.emmanuel.org.uk