Last updated 19:53, Thursday, 09 October 2008

A SERVICE to celebrate the formal merger of two Workington churches took place last Sunday.

Church merger: Churches come together in Workington as the Trinity Methodist Church combines with the United Reformed Church – the Reverend Nicola Reynolds leads the last service in the Trinity Methodist Church on South William Street, Workington, before leading the congregation across the road to become the United Church

Almost 200 people attended the ceremony, which began in the Trinity Methodist Church and then moved across the road to the United Reformed Church.

The two will now be known as the United Church and will meet at the old URC building.

The Rev Nicola Reynolds, who will lead the new congregation alongside the Rev Alistair Smeaton, was delighted to welcome representatives from other churches and denominations around the town, as well as invited dignitaries.

She said: “We were very grateful to Tony Cunningham MP and his family and the mayors of Allerdale and Workington who were with us.

“It was a wonderful time of peace and fellowship.”

Whitehaven Male Voice Choir will give a concert at the church this evening to complete a week of special events.

A harvest celebration will then take place on Sunday, starting at 10.30am.