A RELIGIOUS sect based in Almondsbury is set to expand to Thornbury in order to provide for more of its congregation in the area.

The Greenfield Gospel Hall Trust, which is part of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church, has applied for a change of use of Energy House in Millbury Heath, just outside Thornbury, from an office space to a place of worship.

The church’s main hub is in Almondsbury, with around 10 buildings across South Gloucestershire serving its 400-strong congregation.

“The main hall works completely differently to the satellite halls,” said trustee Charlie Leflaive. “Almondsbury offers group worship to the whole congregation, while our satellite buildings serve more of the local area, where around 30-to-40 of our group live.

“We decided to take up the property just outside Thornbury because we didn’t have any in that area, and it is where quite a few of the congregation live.”

The application for a change of use was put before Thornbury Town Council’s full meeting on Tuesday, with no objections made.