It was almost ten years ago when parishioners noticed a crack appearing on a wall of St Margaret's Church in Thornbury, Bradford.

Initially, the blemish was no cause for alarm and the regular services carried on as usual.

But a month later the church's faithful received the devastating news that it was a sign of something far more serious. The structure, built in 1910, was subsiding dangerously and would have to be demolished.

Services were switched to the neighbouring church hall as the bulldozers moved into to demolish the once-proud structure.

As workmen began attacking the Leeds Old Road site with hammers and chisels, a group of parishioners hung a banner on the railings featuring an illustration of Humpty Dumpty.

Rosie Farrington, manager of the Thornbury Centre which stands on the spot St Margaret's had once filled, said: "The relevance of Humpty Dumpty was that he was put together again. It was a message of hope from those that held the church dearly that it would be replaced."

The magnificent structure of today's Thornbury Centre must have surpassed the group's wildest dreams.

While many churches contain a community centre, this is a community centre which contains a church.

The £3 million centre was made possible through cash from the Millennium Commission along with grants from Diocese of Bradford, the European Union, the Newlands Single Regeneration Budget, Bradford Council and fundraising from residents.

Although it has been open for a year, the centre will be officially opened by Princess Alexandra tomorrow.

Also attending the ceremony will be clergymen from across the country, Council officials, representatives from the funding groups as well as those who use it on a day-to-day basis.

The versatile centre has been a huge success with all quarters of the community it serves.

Visitors walking into the vast building, with its walls of glass and series of walkways, could find children playing happily on a bouncing castle in the impressive St Margaret's Church section.

If they returned hours later, the inflatable may have been removed, the pews returned and a traditional service taking place.

There are a wealth of vastly differing activities and services beneath the one vast curving roof and this strikes at the whole ethos of the centre.

The relaxed atmosphere of the caf is a world away from the fun-packed environment of the creche and playroom. While one group may beaver away in the computer suite on various education projects Asian women could be holding out the traditional henna party which proceeds a wedding.

The centre contains a library - the most popular branch outlet in the district - as well as a umber of workshops and bases for community a host services.

Rosie Farrington said: "When I came to the centre while it was under construction it was clear that it would be a success.

"The place had a presence about it and I thinks that is clearly evident now."

She recognises how important it is for the centre to follow the community's agenda rather than just to lay on activities and services which they think it wants.

"I think that it will take years for the centre to truly come to fruition but what has been done in just a year is praiseworthy."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.