THE doors officially opened on West Somerset's newest community facility for families and young people last Saturday.
Although the vision behind the facility has been in the pipeline for several years, church leaders only seriously began to develop the project last November.
And in that time more than £60,000 has been raised to help the dream become a reality.
More than 400 people took the chance to look around and test out some of the new equipment before the ribbon cutting and celebration service.
Guests at the event included representatives of many organisations who had helped get the Hub off the ground, including local councillors and outgoing Minehead mayor Cllr Tony Berry, along with the Rev Jez Brown, regional minister of the South West Baptist Association who now own the building.
The Rev Tim Langdon, one of the instigators of the project, said: "It was a fantastic day of celebration.
"To have been able to raise the necessary funding and have the Hub running by May 2013 has been an incredible effort."
The centre was opened by Jo Eyers, one of the original members of the Alcombe Evangelical Church who is now on the management team overseeing the new facility.
Cutting the ribbon with her was Rufus Rossiter, chosen on the day by raffle ticket from the children attending the event.
The service featured several performances by members of the children's performing arts group WOW and a thanksgiving 'memorial' of boxes marking the journey and giving thanks to supporters, who include West Somerset Council, Somerset County Council, Restore Hope West Somerset, Magna Housing Association, churches, contractors and anonymous individuals who have bought chairs, carpets and fittings.
Minehead Baptist Church Minister the Rev Andrew McCausland said the vision for the Hub was rooted in the church's mission statement to be "channels of God's blessing to the world".
"It is exciting to see the coming together of church and community in a project to help families, children and young people in our area," he said.
"God's heart is to reach out in love to all people and we are praying that the Hub can be a concrete expressions of that here in West Somerset."
Di Phillips has been appointed as part-time manager to oversee the facility, working with a team of volunteers.
The soft play equipment is open to all at a cost of £2 per child and details of the Hub's opening hours can be found at http://www.minehead-baptist.com/thehub/">www.minehead-baptist.com/thehub/ or by calling 01643 707598.
l Pictured from the left are the Rev Tim Langdon, Cllr Tony Berry, Rufus Rossiter, Dave Westcott and Jo Eyers.
Photo: Steve Guscott