A CHURCH which has been homeless for seven years has finally found a place to call home in Maldon.

The Christian Growth Centre (CGC) in Maldon is a church-based charity with a vision to serve the Maldon community as well as celebrate together as a congregation on a Sunday.

They have a number of community projects and programmes impacting all ages from babies through to adults and providing opportunities for friendship, support and connection.

The church has been led by ministers Rob and Jeannie Saggs since 2011, and have been eager to find a permanent home for the church.

Their present office is at Maldon Methodist Church for administration, with services being held in Maldon Town Hall.

However, after seven years of searching and waiting, the CGC has been offered permanent residence at Maldon Baptist Church in Butt Lane, with three rooms.

They will now hold all future services there, with their main one on Sundays at 10am.

They meet in the back hall where they often have up to 60 people of all ages joining in the lively worship and engaging teaching, there is children’s work and youth work too.

Maldon Baptist Church have a more traditional service with guest speakers each week whilst their minister Jo Stark is away ill.

They have several events in the week including lunch break and bric-a-brac, bible study, bereavement group and tool box, with people donating unwanted tools to give to good causes.

Rob Saggs said: “It feels so great to be able to have a permanent home for the CGC, I always found it a bit ironic that I run the Essex based CHESS homeless charity, but at the same time managed a church without a home.

“The CGC enjoy being innovative in reaching out to the community, we’ve launched Maldon carpet bowls, Bar ‘n’ Bus, and out latest outreach called The Bridge, a welcoming environment for families, it caters for everyone.”

Jeannie Saggs said: “Our heart is to reach out to our community and make the church accessible for all, in a non-threatening environment.”

Visit www.cgcmaldon.com.