CHRIST Church in Wharton has reopened after being closed for more than a year while undergoing a £300,000 refurbishment.

The church, in Crook Lane, closed in July last year with the Sunday services being held at Willow Wood Primary School.

After 15 months of work being carried out on the 19th century building, the church has now reopened and members of the church are encouraging people to go along and use the new church and community building.

Rev Tim Hanson said: “We left the building in about July 2015 and we have had a huge amount of work done.

“It’s a wonderful building that was built many years ago but it was becoming a little bit unsafe.

“We can do so many activities and events now that we just couldn’t do before. We want it to be a community building, it is anyway but this will enable more of that to happen.

“We have only had positive comments with people saying how much it’s improved.

“We have been using Willow Wood Primary School for our Sunday services for 15 months. They were very kind to let us use their building and we would like to thank them for that.”

The new church consists of new heating, rewiring, a new floor and ceiling, disabled access, new furniture and new kitchens.

The £300,000 for the project came partially from Waste Recycling Environmental Limited WREN, who donated £50,000 to the project and the church raised the rest through other donations.

Richard Smith, WREN grant manager for Cheshire, said: “The church is in an area where something like that is desperately needed in the community, so we’re quite pleased about that.

“Putting something back into the community and making a difference is one of our priorities.”

The church held an official opening day where Winsford town mayor Cllr Steve Smith cutting the ribbon.

Cllr Smith said: “It’s a special community building and church to me as both my brothers got married in the church. I was born in Wharton and the church gave me great memories and will now continue to make great memories for many people.”