A FORMER nightclub in Bradford city centre that has been resurrected into the new Fountains Church is now officially registered for weddings.
"We resurrected the nightclub which was completely devastated," said Linda Maslen, leader of the Fountains Church, which used to be a complex of former nightclubs and bars called Glydegate Square.
Rev Maslen said the church completed phase one of the building refurbishment, involving the worship area and a cafe.
Two more phases of work have yet to be done, but the church is now all set to host weddings - and wedding receptions if needed.
After holding its first wedding last weekend, today Fountains Church members Jamie Greenhough and Ruth Nutter are tying the knot.
"They're getting married in what was a nightclub, said Rev Maslen. "They're going to sign the registry on one of the tables that was originally used in the nightclub.
"When I was younger, I remember drinking there," said groom-to-be Jamie. "And there's a big possibility that I drank at that table."
Rev Maslen said Fountains, which she admitted is more "nightclubbish" than most churches, is also a very modern church with a "younger vibe".
Rev Maslen said the church was registered to perform marriages just over two weeks ago Jamie and Ruth's ceremony today will be the church's second marriage celebration.
With tight Covid restrictions on numbers at weddings starting to lift, Jamie and Ruth will be allowed about 90 guests.
And to make things easier for the couple, Fountains also will host the wedding reception, which will be socially distanced.
"We're getting married at Fountains Church, a former nightclub," said Jamie. "It's fantastic news and we're very excited.
"We've been members of the congregation since the church first opened," said Jamie. "We originally were going to get married in a more traditional church but this way we'll more of our friends at Fountains with us. It's a place that we know, so these are the little things that make it more worthwhile. It'll be a very different wedding, but more intimate.
Jamie said he and Ruth got engaged last year, and had originally planned on getting married sooner but Covid forced them to push back plans for their big day.
"We actually got engaged in the middle of Covid," he said. "We were originally looking at last summer but thought we'd give it a couple of months as this Covid thing was not going away quickly. We didn't expect it take this long."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel