Take a look at how this Halesowen church will rise from the ashes after a devastating fire
A church which burned down in a devastating fire is to rise from the ashes – and now new images of its rebuild have been unveiled.
The Zion Christian Centre, which has been based in Halesowen for 40 years, is changing its name on Easter Sunday to the Lifecentral Church, and will also launch a new centre in Hagley.
In August 2015 the centre was ravaged by a blaze, which caused extensive damage to around half of the building on Little Cornbow, Halesowen.
Now artist's impressions have revealed what the renovated centre will look like when it opensin the autumn.
This includes the creation of a 400-seater auditorium to replace their former space lost in the fire.
The renovations will also see a cladded frontage created along with new offices and toilets.
Since the early 80s the church has been in the centre of the town, known for its buildings, its youth work, and its range of community provision and activities.
Originally known as Zion Pentecostal Church, it has also become known as The Zion.
The slogan of the renamed Lifecentral Church will be 'a place to discover life', and it will have a new, second location at Haybridge School on Brake Lane, Hagley.
Devastating
Lead pastor, Leon Evans, said: "As many people will know, in the summer of 2015 a huge fire tore through the auditorium, devastating the heart of this community church.
"What happened in the next few months was inspirational: People came together to help, donations were made, walls were painted, equipment was loaned and the church not only continued to thrive but to actually grow. Now – after 40 years in Halesowen – we are excited by these developments.
"In addition to launching both Lifecentral Church as the new name on Easter Sunday, and a new location in Hagley, we will then begin a refurbishment programme at our Halesowen base which will result in a new auditorium at the heart of the town of Halesowen, which is due to open in the autumn of 2017.
"It's a remarkable story of what good things can come from a tough, challenging situation and of the life that can rise from the ashes."
