TWO Penarth churches are joining forces and appealing for the public to help choose a name for the new church.

Immanuel Church Penarth and Cosmeston Church are joining forces to create a new church that will serve the people of Penarth by providing a range of community based activities.

The new church will be open to everyone and offer family friendly services with a contemporary style and a range of activities throughout the week - for parents and toddlers, children, youth and older people.

Simon Jennings, one of the leaders of the new church, is asking the public to help choose its name.

“We’re really excited to be launching the new church," he said.

"We want to offer a place where people of all backgrounds and beliefs can find out more about what it really means to be a follower of Jesus in twenty first century Wales.”

He added: “We will work closely with other churches and non-church groups, and we want the public to help us choose a name that reflects our goal of serving the people of Penarth. We’d also welcome suggestions of activities that people would like us to provide.”

Cosmeston Church was established 20 years ago to serve Lower Penarth and the Cosmeston estate and was based at the Lower Penarth Community Centre at Brockhill Way. Famous for its annual open air re-enactment in the Medieval Village of the story of Jesus’ birth, the church is affiliated to the Baptist Union and has a congregation of around 75 people.

Immanuel Church Penarth, which has previously been based at the Paget Rooms and Stanwell School, was established more than a decade ago. It has a strong presence in the town with talented musicians, a ministry to the homeless and a strong commitment to welcoming people of all ages and backgrounds. In the past it has also organised missionary trips to France to help those in need.

The two churches have been working closely together for the last year and hold joint services at 10.30am on Sunday on the first floor of the Trinity Methodist Church building, which is accessed via the Woodland Place entrance.

Suggestions for the new name and any other comments you want to make can be sent via email to nameofchurch@gmail.com. It is hoped that people will submit their ideas for the new name of the church so that the result can be announced in the spring.