THE last brick of a Victorian church was laid to rest at dusk on Friday as part of a million pound project to build a modern church and community centre in Penketh.

Built in 1860, Penketh Methodist Church on Chapel Road had started falling into disrepair with renovations to make the old building safe exceeding the cost of demolition and starting again.

The plans for a new church and community centre were unanimously approved by Warrington Borough Council's planning committee last April, despite a number of residents objecting to the proposals.

Rev Loraine Mellor led an early morning service on Monday morning as the cranes rolled into the churchyard to start pulling down the brickwork Saying it was a time of both sadness and joy for the community she added: “We are looking forward to what the new building will mean to the people of Penketh.

“It was sad in some ways as the old church had to go but it was also exciting because this is a project that has been on people’s minds in Penketh for the last 10 years.”

As the interior of the church was ripped out, workmen discovered two time capsules dating back to the 1860s and 1891 when the church was extended which will be on display in the new centre.

A meeting is taking place on April 20 between the church building committee and tenders to determine when building will start.

Barrie Stirk, chairman of the building executive, said they are still looking for funds but hope to have the build under way by the summer.