Church to make delayed move to former pub

A church which has faced a year of delays over a planned move to a former pub now expects to be in its new home for Christmas.

Kings Church Gateshead was granted permission to move to the former Railway Club on Wellington Street last year after it lost its former rented building and was left hosting services in a local primary school.

Pastor Paul Ellison said it had to finalise the sale of the site from its previous owner and complete renovation work, but the first sermon in the new space should be held by November.

He said: "It's been a journey of excitement and frustration at the same time, but I'm chomping at the bit."

The church was established in 2013 and has been located at South Street Community Primary School since 2024.

It previously rented a space at The Hub community space on Swan Street until 2023, when the owner decided to sell the building.

The church applied to move to the former Railway Club last July, but it was not granted permission until November.

Ellison said it took about another six months for the building to be reconnected to the electrical grid, at which point both the wiring and heating failed.

Throughout this, he said, discussions about its sale continued with the previous owners, but the final paperwork was expected to be signed next month.

Ellison said: "One hurdle after the next, but here we are, 15 months later and still ready.

"I think not only will it be good for us as a church, we'll be good for the community as well.

"I'm really, really looking forward to this."

The church plans to reopen its clothing bank which gives away free children's clothing and previously supported about 6,000 families.

Ellison said the church would also rent out space to generate funds.

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