AN INTERNATION­AL singer is helping a Forest church celebrate its 10th birthday next month.

Jonathan Veira will be visiting the Forest of Dean Community Church in Cinderford on March 19 where a show will be held.

When the old church in Station Street closed in 1999 it seemed that 80 years of worship in the building had drawn to an end. However out of the closure came new life. Pastor Tim and Katrina Cracknell were commissioned to launch a new church in 2006 and now the successful community church has outgrown the old church building and meets at the Forest High School each Sunday morning.

Pastor Tim Cracknell said: “The last 10 years have been an incredibly exciting time for us. To see the numbers attending church growing, as a new younger generation have connected with God is thrilling and, most importantly, to see lives changed is wonderful.”

Jonathan has performed in front of thousands of people but is changing his habits in far more intimate settings.

Tickets to the event at the Spotlight Theatre at Freedom Leisure Centre are available from Graham Powell on 0740 3120956 or email [email protected]. The show starts at 7.30pm.