JEHOVAH’S Witnesses in Wellington are moving out of town to hold their two weekly services.

The Witnesses – who have had a presence in Wellington for more than 60 years – are moving because they have outgrown the Kingdom Hall in White Hart Lane.

Since the congregation was formed back in 1951, it has used various buildings to hold its services. In the early days they used to meet in a Nissen hut in Bulford, which was also used at other times by the town band for its practice sessions.

Since then they have met in the Shaplands Rooms in Fore Street, currently the Co-op, the former Toc H building in North Street and Moose Hall in Bulford, now a residential dwelling.

Their current Kingdom Hall in White Hart Lane, next to the community centre, was formerly part of what was then Richardson’s Garage. Just over 30 years ago the Witnesses bought the property and, using volunteer labour and contributions, spent the next two years converting it into a place of worship. But over the last three decades the congregation has slowly grown in size to more than 100 members – meaning the hall is now too small to accommodate everyone comfortably.

Shane Potts, one of the elders of the Wellington congregation, said: “We’re moving to Taunton to a larger facility that is already used by the two congregations in the town, Vivary and Priorswood. This means that, at different times during the week, all of the 350 Witnesses in the Taunton and Wellington area will be using a modern, well-equipped place of worship.”

The Witnesses plan to sell the property in White Hart Lane and use the funds to support their international disaster relief and evangelism programmes.

The last service in White Hart Lane is on Sunday, January 1, at 10am. After this they will meet on Wednesdays at 7pm and Sundays at 10am at the Kingdom Hall in Upper High Street, Taunton, next to the police station.