NOTHING better than St John the Baptist Church in Park North mirrors the fall and rise of the estate, according to its rector.

The Rev Rob Burles, 48, used to sell computers, but answered a calling 11 years ago that saw him arrive in Parks and Walcot via Freshbrook, Grange Park and Harrow in West London.

In his five years at St John's, attendances have doubled and the church is now on a more even financial footing.

Much-needed repair work on the roof and windows, estimated at £100,000 and partly financed by a loan, is well under way and the church is once again at the forefront of the community.

These are exciting times for the estates of Parks and Walcot, which were last year named as among the ten most deprived areas in the South West.

They are now set to benefit from a £1.5 million cash windfall from the South West Development Agency.

Rob said: "It's been tough because people living here on the estate have been buffeted by life and some feel that people don't care for them anymore. It's a tough area to work, but the people are so down to earth and that counts for a lot.

"A lot of people value the church and what it offers, even though they don't necessarily come every week."

St John's was built roughly at the same time as the estate nearly 50 years ago, but as recently as five years ago was struggling to keep its head above water.

"Back then the church was not paying its way at all," said Rob. "The congregation was small, the financial systems were not in place and nothing was budgeted for.

"Today the financial situation has been transformed and the congregation can see where the money goes. It's a friendly and welcoming church and hopefully that comes across in the informal atmosphere I try to create."

The church in Whitbourne Avenue is home to the Stepping Forward Project a drop in centre and resource library for youths and young adults with drug and alcohol difficulties. The church also houses the estate's health visitors and is open every morning for quiet prayer.

He lives in the vicarage with his teacher wife, Tina, and children Lydia, 20, and Nathan, 17.

"Most professional people commute into Swindon, but we chose to move here because we like it so much," he added.

"There is a great community spirit and a lot of community activities that take place are self-generated.

"The church mirrors the estate in a lot of ways it was run down and needed repairs and was at risk of having no congregation and no money, but things have been transformed. People don't have to spend great fortunes to bring hope and confidence, things that an estate like this needs. And while there is a great deal more to do, people are beginning to see things happen around here."

In May last year, pioneering street wardens first appeared on the estates to patrol the streets and act as the eyes and ears of the community. Since that time, crime and vandalism levels have fallen.

But it is not just here that a renewed interest in the church has been noticed.

At Christ Church in Swindon's Old Town generally thought of as a more financially prosperous area with fewer social challenges the Rev Simon Stevenette has also noticed that attendances are rising.

He said: "It is a privilege to be called by God to preach the gospel in Old Town, which I have done with my colleagues over the past five years.

"I've found a lot of openness in local people to what the Bible has to say and its relevance to everyday life and contemporary issues.

"We're particularly seeing fruit at the moment in preaching the gospel at baptisms, weddings and funerals and in our new 11.30am Searchlight Service each Sunday morning.

"We're encouraged in seeing God regularly at work in Old Town."