WORSHIPPERS have had their prayers answered after raising £500,000 for a church extension with all the money coming from their own pockets.

The 100 members of Wantage Baptist Church paid for the two-storey facility, which opened recently, without the help of grants, loans or fundraising.

The church, in Mill Street, now has classroom facilities, two large halls, a kitchen, toilet facilities and a lift. The old church was also renovated.

The first part of the project was completed two years ago when the £100,000 Kings Centre shop, in King’s Walk, opened.

Pastor Philip Lambert, 60, said: “It all came from the congregation. We did not ask for any money or do any fundraising. It certainly shows they are fully committed to God’s work in the local church. We are really quite thrilled about it.

“The church buildings were very old and damp. They just needed updating and making everything modern and usable. Not only was it old and deteriorating, but there was no heating too.”

Ivy Steers, 66, of Rolls Court, said: “We realised as a church we needed a bigger facility to accommodate more newcomers and by God’s grace we have been able to get these brand spanking new facilities for teaching.

“It has been such a blessing. And the old part of the church has been modernised, it really has been wonderful.”

The final £200,000 needed was raised this year as the building work went on.

Mrs Steers added: “We did not do any fundraising but a lot of prayer went in to it. Very often just at the point of an invoice needing to be paid, the money was provided.”

She said church-goers believed they had a duty to give a proportion of their earnings to do God’s work and this is where the cash came from.

Church deacon Roger Frith, 70, said the church could now become a bigger force in the town.

He said: “We are in a very good position to be able to, not only be seen, but provide a service to the community. And especially with the Kings Centre, we are open seven days a week.”

Plans to do the work were first made 20 years ago.