The old Church of the Good Shepherd and Parish Hall is set to come tumbling down in the near future.

It will be replaced by a new, modern building capable of delivering more services to the community, the young in particular.

The next phase has been handed over to professional contractors, so there will be no need to blow the sort of trumpets which brought down the walls of Jericho.

Says Heswall Parish: "The site has now been handed over for demolition. Utilities are being disconnected and then the whole building will be recycled as far as possible. This includes the roof, the bricks and fitments.

"We are aiming to make this new building as ecologically sound as we can. In the meantime activities continue based around St Peter's church buildings in Lower Heswall."

Planning consent for the new Lighthouse Church was given in late 2018; it is hoped it will open in 2022.

The project will cost £2.4 million, of which £2 million has already been raised - so the final fundraising leap has still to be made, and the Parish will welcome any help.

The new design will help to open the church out to the main high street and the combination of worship space, community spaces and meeting rooms is intended to ensure the building can be used by everyone.

In March the Parish stated: "After a year of COVID we want to create a building which brings hope to Heswall for a better life. A life of sociability, community and a meaning to life."

The old building had long been deemed unfit for purpose, and was in an ever worsening state of decay. The new structure will embrace a sports hall, meeting rooms, a much needed youth hub in a town where there are few facilities for under-18s, and a place to meet and make friends.

If you would like to know more about the project and the reasoning behind it, take a look at the short video at the top of this page.