Last updated 10:33, Friday, 03 October 2008

THE MERGER of two Workington churches will formally take place at a joining service this Sunday.

The service will begin at Trinity Methodist Church at 10.30am, before moving a short distance across South William Street to the new United Church, formerly the United Reformed Church.

The Rev Nicola Reynolds will lead the new congregation alongside the Rev Alistair Smeaton.

She said: “We have been working on this for a long time. It is a wonderful opportunity for the church to witness the community around us coming together.”

Mayor of Workington Bill Bacon and his Allerdale counterpart Allan Caine are both expected to attend, along with Workington MP Tony Cunningham and church officials.

A number of events will take place in the United Church next week. These will include a coffee morning on Wednesday and a concert by Whitehaven Male Voice Choir next Friday.

Plans are in place to convert the existing Methodist Church building into a community centre.

The merger was confirmed in August and came after 18 months of planning.