HORSHAM Church of Christ will celebrate a new home with an opening weekend in April.

Church leaders have been working for the past six years to bring to life their vision of a new home for their congregation and the community, after the congregation outgrew the church’s former home in Baillie Street.

The new building can seat 380 people on the floor level of its chapel, and another 120 to 150 on its mezzanine level.

Ministry team leader Simon Risson hopes the new church in River Road will be complete by the end of this month.

“We are excited about what it will do for us as a church to have a home base again,” he said.

“But more than that we’re excited about the opportunity for the community to use it, especially for people on that side of the Wimmera River, because there are no other large gathering spaces.

“We believe we’ll operate in a unique way for our community.”

Mr Risson said an opening celebration weekend was planned for April 14 and 15.

“People will have a chance to walk through the building and get a sense of what it’s about and who we are, and how it can be used,” he said.

“We’ll have past ministers coming back, and other guests coming through.

“Hopefully we’ll be using the building before then.

“Certainly we hope the building will be at lock-up stage by end of February, and maybe even further along.”