A NEW Blackpool church is holding an open evening this Saturday to celebrate its official launch.

Fylde Coast Church Alive, housed in the former Raikes Parade Methodist church off Blackpool's Church Street, opens its doors at 6.30pm on January 10. The public will be able to meet church members and join in the launch celebrations.

"What we are hoping to do with the Blackpool church is to develop it as a North West conference centre for Lifelink and Christian events.

"It's got a great history of being used for churches coming together or for events and we really want to maintain that," said pastor David Lalgee.

"We were looking for premises, so when this came up we put in an offer."

The church has congregation of about 40 adults and 20 children, and started off with meetings in people's homes in St Annes. It is now affiliated to a Christian church network, Lifelink International, which encourages different churches to work together to benefit communities, he said.

"We are a small group but we are a busy group!

"We want to work in the community alongside existing churches. We are looking to support them and even 'fill gaps' in works of service that they need help with," he said.

Fylde Coast Church Alive took over the Raikes Parade building early last November, after it was put up for sale by the Methodist church.

The building has been redecorated and changes kept to a minimum, he said. "We do want to keep the character of the church, it's a lovely building," said David.

Services recommenced at the church last November. David's wife Carol added: " I know some of the people who used to go to the Methodist church are quite interested in the fact that it's reopened."

And she said everyone is welcome to attend the Saturday celebration.