PARISHIONERS attended the first service at a new church in Bicester yesterday.

The Emmanuel Church's congregation gathered for the first time at its new building in Bure Park.

Members of the church previously met at Bure Park Primary School, in Lucerne Avenue. They have been fundraising for the £1.75m project for a number of years.

The two-storey hall has been built on scrubland next to a doctor’s surgery.

The venue will allow the church to host a number of extra activities, including classes for mothers and toddlers, parenting courses and youth work.