After 14 months of development, the exciting new centre is ready - featuring a worship area, meeting rooms, conference facilities, an exhibition area, facilities for the performing arts and providing hospitality with teas, coffees, snacks and light lunches. The centre will also play host to a 'Fair Trade' outlet operating under the name 'Ubuntu'.

Members of the congregation will have the opportunity to view the centre on the morning of Saturday (March 1), and from 2pm until 4pm, both Saturday and Sunday members of the public are welcome to visit.

West Church Minister, Rev Ian Groves said: "We very much hope that local people will take the opportunity to come and see the centre. It is 14 months since we closed the doors and let the workmen in. Many people have asked what is going on inside and now, finally, we can show them. Everyone is welcome."

The Acorn Centre, with its distinctive new glass porch, represents a major transformation of the church building and marks the culmination of many years of work.

Rev Groves added: "The project has been a real team effort to make the vision a reality. It has involved a great deal of hard work over many years, but we believe it has all been worthwhile.

"The centre is not about bricks and mortar but about being a church without walls, with a true spirit of community. We have been overwhelmed by the generosity and enthusiasm of our members and the wider community and it is only fitting that the first thing we do is throw open our doors and invite people in to see what has been achieved."

The Acorn Centre has been funded by donations, pledges and loans from the congregation, the sale of the previous manse and funding from trusts and grant-giving bodies.