For the second time in its history, this landmark church is on the move again.

More than 100 years ago the white wooden church affectionately known by locals as the Little Church on the Prairie' was transported here all the way from Essex on the back of a traction engine.

Now it's about to be shifted once more - but this time on a rather shorter trip. It will be shifted 30 metres to the left.

St James's Church, Baildon, had its prayers answered when Baildon-born denture maker turned property developer Brendan Hudson snapped up the land it sits on and paid them more than £900,000 so he can build ten new homes on it.

Work began yesterday and will take about nine months to complete.

In the meantime the 30-strong congregation are worshipping in the boardroom of nearby factory Denso Marston, which makes car radiators.

The cash from the land sale will pay for the Grade II-listed church to be dismantled and moved bit by bit before it undergoes a much-needed make-over.

The revamp will also fund a new meeting hall with kitchen and toilets built on land at the back of it. The rebuild will also include a £30,000 eco-friendly pump that will remove natural heat from the ground to provide underfloor heating to keep worshippers warm.

Parishioner Don Edbury said the congregation was also looking forward to its new biblical garden.

The garden will also have benches and plaques linking features to relevant biblical verses including a number of pools symbolising the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea."

The original church was built in Great Warley, Essex, in 1892 and it was the local vicar, the Reverend H R Bailey, who arranged for it to be moved to Baildon when he decided to retire there.

Sadly he died in 1890 - before his retirement - but according to his wishes the church was still moved and built in Baildon in 1904.

Developer Mr Hudson said he remembered the church from growing up and was happy he was helping save it for future generations growing up in the village.

He said: "It's always been a landmark. Everyone knows it as the Little Church on the Prairie'."

"I'm just happy that by buying the land I'm helping the church to move on and be in Baildon for many more years to come."