Plans a permanent church in Notley Village have moved one step further, with a 'personal beliefs' survey carried out on residents.

Members of the Church in Great Notley, which currently meets in portacabins, questioned 500 people.

The results included 42 per cent saying they definitely believe in God and 65 per cent believed Jesus Christ was the only Son of God. A total of 35 per cent of people were not sure what happened after death, although 18 per cent believed that people go to either heaven or hell.

Deacon for the Baptist Church at Notley, Roy Naylor, said: "We are trying to establish exactly what people are feeling. We want to make this an ecumenical church, as we have many different types of people living in Notley now; it will be a real community church.

"We respect everyone's beliefs, but this will also help us to establish what the community needs, such as mother and baby clubs and youth clubs. It will be what the people of Notley need."

Mr Naylor hopes that the church, which will cost about £400,000, will be built within the next two years.

"We have already started fund-raising and have got about £20,000 so far. We still have a long way to go, but we are very optimistic. We also visited schools, because as most parents work during the week, on Sundays they often visit family. This means children don't always get to come to Sunday school."

Mr Naylor added: "What we are trying to show is that Christianity, in whatever form, is still very much alive - it is not dead. We are looking forward to the future of the Church in Great Notley."

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