A COMMUNITY church will be holding its first service in its new venue this weekend.

Kings Church announced it would be moving to the historic Ainsworth Mill, in New Bury Road, in May.

The church, which was founded by pastors Derek and Georgina Smith in 2005, was previously based in Boundary Industrial Estate, in Millfield Road.

More than 500 people visited the church at the old site every week and the new venue, which the church leases, has a 650-capacity auditorium with state-of-the-art sound system.

Pastor Derek Smith said: “We’re very excited and thrilled to be moving in. It’s been a journey and a bit of a labour of love to get to this point.

“There’s still a bit of work to do and it will take us until around Christmas to get it exactly how we want it but we’re thrilled to be where we are.”

Once finished, the new premises will also include meeting rooms, training rooms and office space, a children’s centre, a multi-sensory room and an outdoor play area.

Since May, Kings Church has also secured £28,593 in funding for a community cafe project.

The funding is made up of: Awards for All - £9,258, Allchurches Trust - £2,250, Rank Foundation - £3,000, The Manchester Guardian Society Charitable Trust - £2,000, Garfield Weston - £10,000 and Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund -£585.

Pastor Smith added: “We’re thrilled, we could still do with a little but it's given us the ability to get start-up work ready.”

Ainsworth Mill, in Bury New Road was in use as early as 1850 and has been occupied by Blackshaw Dyeing and Finishing Co, Ainsworth Mercerising Co, and Lancashire Cotton Corporation, among others. It has been empty since 2006.

The first service at the new Kings Church site will be at 10.30am, on Sunday September 22.