A HIGH Wycombe church is seeking a new home, so it can expand its work with the town's black youngsters.

The Church of God of Prophecy has been going strong in the town since 1973 under its pastor, the Rev Jefferson Atherley.

Church members used to meet in the former Methodist Church, St Mark's, in Totteridge Road, High Wycombe, and wanted to buy the building, but negotiations fell through, because the Methodists want to sell the land for redevelopment.

But on December 30 St Mark's was destroyed by a blaze, suspected to have been started by arsonists.

Bert Reid, one of four lay preachers at the church, and a father of three daughters, said: "We can't do the things in the community we would like until we have our own building. We have a growing congregation and we need a place of our own."

He said the church wanted to bring in the youngsters and one way they believe that could be done is through musical workshops.

Mr Reid added: "We are trying to show young people that there are more options and they don't have to believe in the stereotypes."

Mr Reid is part of the church task force set up to find a new site.

The church meets in the Methodist Church rooms in Castlefield at present but the rooms are also used by the Methodist church, Scouts and the nursery group which is going to be redeveloped in September.

The Church of God of Prophecy mainly serves the black community. It is a nationwide charismatic church which has been operating since the 50s.

It holds services on Sundays and Wednesdays, a prayer meeting on Thursdays and has band practice on Fridays.