More than 180 people gathered on Sunday to celebrate the launch of a new Methodist church in St Keverne.

Two services were held in the former Methodist hall, which has now become the United Methodist Church St Keverne.

The congregations of St Keverne and Ponsongath have amalgamated to form the new church, which now comprises around 25 regular members.

From now on they will meet each Sunday for services in what was the adjacent hall, which will still be available for use by community groups, including the parish council for its monthly meetings, outside of the service times.

To mark the occasion members of St Keverne and Coverack Anglican parish churches joined with the Methodist church on Sunday for a service attended by more than 90 people.

St Keverne minister Rev Fran Lane led the service, with circuit minister Rev Danny Reed preaching the sermon.

Not only was this the commissioning service for the new church, but was also a covenant service.

A similar number attended a service of celebration in the evening, from the Lizard and Mounts Bay Methodist Circuit, with Rev Danny this time leading the worship and Rev Fran preaching. The organist for both services was church treasurer Tony Ings.

Afterwards a celebratory cake was cut and then served as part of the post-service refreshments.

Church secretary Arthur Jackson told the Helston Packet: "We had a wonderful time. It was a great start and we're now going forward in confidence to show the love of Christ to the community.

"Several people have said what great services they were and how much they enjoyed them."

He added that the amount of people attending the services showed the support give to each other by the Methodist and Anglican churches in the area.

"We work together in several ways in the village ecumenically and that service was just another reflection of the joint co-operation and worship," he said.

As a result of the new church moving permanently to the hall, the building will now be refurbished and updated.

The old chapel building, now vacant, is going through the planning process with a view to turning it into flats.