Several of Bermuda's churches are set to take advantage of increasing flocks by expanding their premises.

The latest church to appeal to the Development Applications Board to expand its facilities is The New Testament Church of God on Cedar Hill in Warwick.

The church proposes to build a multi-purpose hall which will house a day care nursery for 40 children between 7.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Church pastor Eugene Joell told The Royal Gazette that he thought that many churches were expanding their buildings because "people are going to church now''.

Rev. Joell, who was hesitant to discuss his church's proposed additions since the plans have not been approved by the DAB, claimed that congregations were growing.

Pastor Lou Dubost, of Calvary Gospel Chapel in Southampton, echoed Rev.

Joell's assessment.

"Demand has increased,'' Pastor Dubost said. "There's a need for new buildings.'' Presently, he said, his church was constructing an education wing and increasing the capacity of its auditorium.

Pastor Dubost said the new plans, which are before the DAB, were a follow-up project to the present additions.

"We are already building,'' he said. "And we thought that since the construction was already going, we might as well just follow up.'' "This is God's work,'' Pastor Dubost added. "This is building up the body of the church.'' Bethel AME Church on North Shore Road in Shelly Bay received approval from the DAB, in November of last year, to increase its seating capacity from 200 to 400 people.

When the church was granted its approval last November, the Rev. J. Alton Thompson told The Royal Gazette that the additions were prompted by a growing membership and the need to provide better facilities.

Although he was not sure when work would begin, Rev. Thompson said building would take place where the parsonage was located.

"We will demolish the parsonage and come out that way,'' he explained.

"Downstairs, the extension would include Sunday School classrooms, offices and a library. Above there would be an extension of the sanctuary.'' Rev. Thompson added the addition would also be accessible to the handicapped.

And the First Church of God on First Church Lane, Pembroke, received the go-ahead for a major extension of its sanctuary in June of last year.

The extension would see the church building double in size and seat 1,000.

EXPANDING -- Bethel AME Church in Shelly Bay is just one of many local churches expanding their premises to accommodate a growing flock.

INCREASING DEMAND -- New Testament Church of God on Cedar Hill, Warwick, hopes to expand in a bid to meet a growing demand.