A PLAN has been lodged with East Lothian Council for an extension to the Wallyford Livingroom Church so it has more space to serve the community.

Pastor Andrew Agnew said ground behind the existing church would offer a sizeable new hall to seat 170 people and accommodate a small stage. A further room would also cater for the church creche as well as meetings of the Sunday School and Bible class.

They hope to hold weddings and funerals as well as opening up use of the extension to community groups, such as fitness and dance classes.

With hundreds of new homes being built around Wallyford, Mr Agnew stressed that there was a need to meet the demands of a growing community.

“We have to make sure we are here for our community and we feel this would be a real bonus to the community – our space just now is desperately limited,” he said.

Mr Agnew said he has to direct people who want to use the church facility to nearby St Clement’s Church Hall.

Wallyford Livingroom Church, which builds on the work of many years of the old Wallyford Mission, occupies East Cottage, the former home of the coal board manager which appears on a 1907 ordinance survey map.

Mr Agnew, from Dungannon, Northern Ireland, worked in Mexico with street children before being appointed pastor at the Wallyford Living Church. He and his wife Carol have three children.