A service of celebration was held to mark the official reopening of a church after a 17-month long £1m redevelopment.

Parishioners of New Malden Baptist Church, who funded half the demolition and renovation programme, joined together for the service on Kingston Road.

Rev Johnny Pozzo led the proceedings and the address was given by Rev Roy Searle, director of the Northumbria Community Trust and past-president of the Baptist Union of Great Britain.

Church Elder David Williams said: “It went very well. Everyone seemed that visited from past members to those from other churches seemed to be bowled over by the new premises."

The redeveloped premises include a pre-fabricated wooden church hall shipped in from Germany, a multi-purpose hall with adjoining kitchen, a lounge and crèche area and three upstairs meeting rooms.

The building, which originally opened in 1954, has also been designed to accommodate disabled people and uses energy saving technology for heating and lighting.

The congregation were reminded of the church’s 150-year history and enjoyed photos of the opening of the main worship area, published in the Surrey Comet 57 years ago.

They also gave thanks to the fundraisers, who include an enterprising church member who raised more than £15,000 by collecting scrap metal and a group of daredevil mountain climbers who bagged £2,000 by tackling the Three Peaks Challenge.

Guests at the service on Saturday, November 19, included the architect, Hans Heinlein, representatives of the contractors, Chase Construction, the quantity surveyor and building services consultant.

Other churches and organisations were also represented including St John’s church in the Kingston Road, where some services were shared during the summer, the London Baptist Association and Kingston Street Pastors.

New activities have already started at the church including a weekly lunch session, which offers a mixed programme and a new church experience for families after school with craft, activities and a short service.

For more information on the church activities phone 020 8942 6912, email office@nmbc.org.ukor visit nmbc.org.uk.