A CHURCH is celebrating plans to expand following a three-year battle to buy land.

Thundersley Congregational Church, in Kenneth Road, bought the half-acre next to the church to build a community centre.

The congregation, alongside supporters, Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris and Castle Point mayor Andrew Sheldon, attended a special service on Sunday to mark the church’s expansion.

A centre will be built on the land on the corner of Kenneth Road and London Road.

Rev Dave Pickett said: “The celebration went really well and we had about 120 people turn up for the service. We also cut a symbolic ribbon for the land and everyone was very excited.”

The hall will include a new worship area, a youth centre and children and family centre, with a new car park.

Mr Pickett, a former Royal Marine, began work on the project five years ago.

He said: “It started at Armed Forces Day five years ago. I got talking to a councillor and it went from there.

“We want this to be a real place for the community.

“We’ve still got a way to go and we really want to get on with it, but it will cost a lot of money and it will take time.”

The church, which regularly has 300 people attending on Sundays, hopes to complete the car park and grassy area for activities in the near future.

Mr Pickett said: “Short-term, our plan is to make the land suitable for a car park and grassy area and then we want to build the hub and eventually we will demolish part of our building to renew it.

“It will form part of this L shaped community hub and we want to provide proper access for young families with pushchairs and those in wheelchairs.

“It’s a very exciting time.”

A deposit has been paid for the land thanks to churchgoers raising more than £500,000, but another £400,000 is needed over the next three years to pay the balance to Redwood Homes, without interest.