ON Sunday, the President of the Methodist Church in Great Britain visited Hale for the dedication service of a new church and community building.

At the Vine, the new home of Hale Methodist Church, the Rev Dr Mark Wakelin said that he would be telling people around the country what has been done in Hale.

Speaking to a packed congregation of around 200 people, he praised the design of the building and the hard work which had gone into it to making it a place where God is close and where people can continue to mark important, sad and joyous times in their lives.

Above all, he said, the Vine needs to be a place for the local community where people are welcome whoever they are.

The service marked the opening of the Vine, a new development on the site of the former Hale Methodist Church building which provides a large, flexible and accessible space for church and community activities, with meeting rooms and kitchen facilities.

As part of the project, Great Places Housing Group has built Oak Gardens, seven flats which will be made available to first time buyers from the area.

The minister responsible for the Vine, the Rev Kevin Johnson said: “We are thrilled with the building and we have had a wonderful day.

"It is great that we have been able to work with Great Places to provide much needed affordable housing for local first time buyers. We are looking forward to welcoming people of all ages into the building and responding to the needs of the local community.”