THE Church of the Nazarene at Westhoughton is looking for a permanent home.

Since the church's premises at Church Street were vandalised earlier in the year, members have been meeting in a church hall at Tithe Barn Street, loaned by the parish of St Bartholomew's.

But the building is scheduled for redevelopment and members are only there on a temporary basis.

Their former premises in the Wingates end of Church Street is up for sale because apart from the damage caused by the vandals, the building is in a poor state of repair.

Church secretary Mrs Florence Holden is looking for a suitable building the church can use in Westhoughton, and has written to the Town Council to see if it can suggest anywhere.

Mrs Holden said: "The Rev Simon Tatton Brown, of St Bartholomew's has been smashing. We are really grateful for his help and he has told us we are welcome to use the hall for as long as possible. It is a beautiful hall and we are happy to go on using it until then but we don't want to be left without anywhere to go, which is why we are looking around now."

The church at Westhoughton is small with about 15 to 20 people attending each week. Members meet twice on Sundays, and once during the week, which is on a Friday at the moment.

The church used to have a thriving youth club and would like to re-form it once it has a permanent home. Mrs Holden is also keen to start a group for the elderly.

Anyone who can help the church in its search for a suitable building should contact Mrs Holden on Bolton 531919.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.