A NEWPORT church is planning on rebuilding their community hall to mark their 60th anniversary.

St Julian’s Baptist church, in Beaufort Road, in the St Julian’s area of Newport, is hoping to carry out the improvements to better meet “current and future needs”.

Lynda Strickland, a church member, said: “The hall is well past its use by date - it is in constant need of repair.

“Because next year it is the 60th anniversary of the church, we are planning on replacing the hall.

“We want to put a new hall up and call it the Jubilee hall.”

Ms Strickland said the current hall is one big room, with a couple of storage rooms.

The new building will have two medium sized rooms, a disabled toilet, a kitchen and a large area for bigger things like a play group, she added.

The church member said they hope to have solar panels and that they expect to start the project in the second half of next year, when the old hall will be taken down.

Jeanette Taylor, the minister’s wife, said the hall is currently being used every day except for Saturday.

“It is busy,” said Mrs Taylor. “The hall is used by a number of children’s groups, such as parents and toddlers groups - that is the primary use.

“We also hire it out for birthday parties and, occasionally, for larger events.”

Ms Strickland said they have planning permission for the works and that they have asked the Welsh Government for a grant.

She said: “We are very community minded and believe this will help us better meet current and future needs.

“It is a building for the community so we want them to be involved – we want to know what they think of our proposals.”

A community information fair is taking place in the church on Saturday, September 23, from 10.30am to 1pm.

The event will be an opportunity for people to talk to a number of organisations such as Trading Standards or Credit Union. There will be more information about the plans, including sketches, as well.

Refreshments will be available.

To find out more, visit sjbaptist.com or facebook.com/StJuliansBaptist/