A POPULAR Southampton church is set to get bigger and bigger.

Life Church is launching two new congregations.

Celebrations for the launch of the new groups in West End and in Lordshill are due to take place today.

The Life Church West End celebration will take place at West End Parish Centre at 10.30am.

Meanwhile, the Life Church Lordshill will be based at Lordshill Community Centre, and celebrations will start at 3.30pm.

Chris Kilby, church leader, said: “We have been so pleased by the way the church has grown.

“We are keen to let more people in more places discover the ageold message of forgiveness and acceptance that Jesus brings, as well as being part of a great community.”

When Life Church started in the city ten years ago it had just 26 members but now has more than than 250 worshippers.

The church also runs a food bank, a breakfast club – which offers cooked breakfast to those in need – and Home for Good, run with Southampton City Council’s children’s services, to help to find foster and adoptive parents for children in care.

The Life Church West End will meet every Sunday morning at 10.30am in the West End Parish Centre, and will also host a worship, testimony and prayer time every Sunday evening at 6.30pm.

The meetings at the Lordshill Community Centre will begin with monthly meetings – the next ar planned for October 15, November 12 and December 10 at 3.30pm.

Southampton Life Church continues its regular Sunday meetings at Richard Taunton College in Hill Lane at 10am.