HORSHAM'S Church of Christ is planning a move to River Road in Horsham's south after approval and contracts are signed to build a new multi-purpose building.
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The site of the 120-year-old church, at the intersection of Baillie and Urquhart streets, will be put on the market.
The new River Road building, estimated to cost more than $4 million, will include a 500-seat flat floor room, with a main chapel area, youth and children's facilities, a multi-functional room and a meeting room, which could be used as three smaller rooms or a large room.
Ministry team leader Simon Risson said the new River Road building would be funded by the church and its congregation but he stressed the planning was in its early days with contracts and settlements yet to be finalised.
"That's part of the challenge - we can't get any government funding so it will be funded by our people," he said.
"But we've still got a long way to go and it's going to be hard yakka."
Mr Risson said the church had planned for the past 10 years to build on the site at the intersection of Urquhart and Baillie streets but the River Road property became available and was better suited to their needs.
"It will provide for what we want to do and also a range of seminars held in the region," he said.
"Our chapel is getting too small for us. Things are worn out and breaking down and need repairing.
"We want to be seen as adding to the life of the community."
Mr Risson said advantages of the River Road site were more room to accommodate the church's needs and being the only church in that part of Horsham.
"It's a great opportunity for us to go and be a visible presence. We've got to put ourselves out there and we've got to change, and this is one way to do that," he said.
Mr Risson said he had no date when the church would be built.
"It's about moving forward when God opens the door for us," he said.
Mr Risson said the church's growing congregation of 220 people included new people to Horsham, people new to faith and people from other churches.
"In our youth group 50 per cent of the children aren't connected to the church through their families," he said.
Mr Risson said the church's website at www.horsham.org.au was another way to spread the message.
