A new vicarage has been built in the heart of an urban estate in Bury St Edmunds to better serve the town.
The construction of St George's Rectory went ahead despite the difficult economic climate.
The house was built at a cost of £292,000 and includes disabled facilities and energy-saving solar panels.
It was inspected this month by Archdeacon of Sudbury, the Venerable David Jenkins, and will become the new home of Captain Paul Tyler, a Church Army community minister who will work with local residents.
Mr Jenkins said: "We are constantly looking to provide the best possible base from which ministers can work serving local urban and rural communities.
"This vicarage was completed in little over a year, from design, through planning and to completion.
"It will be an excellent base from which Captain Paul Tyler can support local residents and demonstrates the Church's commitment to the local communities we serve."
Mr Nicholas Edgell, Chief Executive of the St Edmundsbury and Ipswich Diocese, was pleased with the finished vicarage, saying it had been built to very high standards and would be economical to run.
"There can be a perception that the Church is in decline," he said.
"But the reality is that in Suffolk we are working hard to reach out to these communities we serve by delivering mission and ministry in an effective, efficient and economic way."
