A HAMPSHIRE church will today reveal its brand new 1,300-seater auditorium to its growing congregation.

Leaders at King’s Community Church in Hedge End say the number of people coming regularly to their Sunday meetings has doubled over the past six years, and they now regularly have more than 700 people turn up.

It was too large a crowd to accommodate in their old building, which seated around 450 people, and the church has been putting on two separate Sunday services every week.

But their £4.6m new building, which includes the auditorium and other community facilities, now means that the whole congregation can once again meet together at the same time.

The church’s youth services, toddler group and parent support clinics will also all be moved into the new building.

Project co-ordinator Simon Thomas said: “We had literally run out of space and this new building has always been part of the plan as we’ve seen the church grow.

“I think the secret to our success is that as a church we have always been firmly part of the community.

“We’ve genuinely got that community family feel – there’s something for children, young people, something for the elderly – something for everyone.

“The new building has been funded partly through bank loans and fundraising the church has done itself.

“We’ve raised more than £600,000 in the past 18 months alone.

“We’re going to have a big opening meeting where we’re basically having a big party.”

The first meeting in the new building starts at 10am today.