A church in Hucknall is starting a monthly family group that encourages creativity and interactivity through making things out of Lego and other similar building brick toys.

Central Methodist Church on Baker Street will hold their first 'Building Connections' session tomorrow afternoon (Saturday 14 May) from 2-3:30.

The group will be held on every second Saturday of each month.

Speaking exclusively to Hucknall Nub News, Reverend John Wiseman, the Minister at Hucknall Central who thought up the idea, said: "I think Lego clubs are very popular whether that be within faith communities or not. After school Lego clubs are really good and there is a very successful one at Watnall Road Baptist Church so I didn't want a repeat, I didn't want to compete so we're going to make sure we do it on a different day.

"I'm hoping that the people who go to that will explore coming to us and I just wanted something that enabled people just to sit, and just do something. A lot of the kits that we've got they don't necessarily result in building a set object, or character or scene, it just lets people use their imagination so it's whatever they can think of, hopefully these kits will fit the bill."

Asked about the merit of running groups like this in church that differ from traditional services and acts of worship, Reverend Wiseman said: "I think a lot of families are not familiar with church or perhaps have an outdated view of church or just don't share the same beliefs and the same faith but that doesn't mean that we cannot open our doors to bring people into our buildings."

Prior to the Coronavirus pandemic the church used to have thriving Messy Church and toddler groups aimed at young children and families. Like all organisations Central has been adapting to 'living with Covid.' Sunday services resumed roughly a year ago but were initially capped at 30 people and attendance had to be booked in advance. Wearing masks throughout the service was also mandatory except for those medically exempt.

All of this was steadily phased out as the congregation grew in confidence about returning to church. However, circumstances have meant that the level of volunteers isn't at pre-Covid levels and has resulted in some groups not restarting and the church having to find inventive ways of connecting with the community.

Reverend Wiseman added: "This provides similar elements (to Messy Church), there's no real set structure, people can come and go as they want, they can play with one thing for 90 minutes or they can swap and change."

He also anticipates that the wide range of building toys available will appeal to children who attend. The church's collection currently includes: Lego, Knex, Blox, Stickle bricks, Octons, Magnetic Squares and Zoobs and they will look to add to this depending on the feedback they receive and which items prove popular.

"I think it's going to be like going into a sweet shop for the first time because there's lots of different things here, lots of colourful things, lots of tactile things, lots of things that are good to handle, strange shapes.

"It is a way of us just doing something for the community that doesn't necessarily require them to believe, require them to have faith, require them to be church goers but I think it shows the church cares for the community in which it lives."

All families are welcome at the event, for further information, click here.