A NEW support worker will soon be commissioned at a church that has become a hub for profoundly deaf Christians.

Goldings Church in Englands Lane, Loughton, will employ churchgoer John Beany to run Bible study classes and social activities for the 30 people in its 130-strong congregation and to reach out to the wider community.

The church’s pastor, Jeremy Sandy, who Mr Beany will be joining, said the church, which already has a British Sign Language interpreter, attracted deaf people from all over Essex to its services and he wanted them to be able to attend the same groups outside church as hearing members of the congregation.

“We are quite unique in Essex and a lot of people travel in to our services,” he added. “It is a community centre for deaf people.

“John will be trying to encourage small groups to meet outside of the Sunday morning services, but we won’t be confining it to just those within the church.

“There may be groups of people who go to different deaf clubs and may not be aware that there is a Christian service with signing.”