A RAMSBOTTOM church is expanding its premises in Ramsbottom and its gospel to Serbia!

Oliviet Pentecostal Church, in Carr Street, is building a £40,000 extension on vacant land at the front of its building -- in the footprint of the original church. It is also helping to fund a church in Serbia to be run by the local community.

Pastor Stephen Gaskell said: "The main hall will be increased by two-thirds to provide room for a creche. We are also building a new office and disabled toilets, which we did not have in the original building.

"It is being built in stone to fit in with the town centre. We are expanding towards Carr Road on what used to be a gravel area. The extension is on the original site, demolished when the existing building was built."

Mr Gaskell said the church had a congregation of 50 and was growing. The creche will provide a much-needed facility for parents with babies younger than Sunday School age so they can be assured their children are cared for while they attend services and meetings.

The work has been paid for by money given by church members through donations and bequests.

Mr Gaskell said: "The work should be finished in four to five weeks, after which we will stage an opening ceremony.

"We are taking the gospel to Serbia next year and will be sending out a team of eight to ten to help Serbian nationals set up a church, which we will finance."