WORK has started on the new £800,000 place of worship for a Bradford religious community.

Bradford’s Ravidassia Community has raised a substantial amount of funds to build the new Bhawan at the site of the former Irish Club on Rebecca Street.

The funds have been raised with the help of a loan from Lloyds Bank in Bradford, and the project is ultimately expected to cost over £800,000.

The group expects work to be completed on the building before the end of the year.

On Wednesday the first stones were laid, and the Ravidassia gather for a blessing ceremony at the site, on the outskirts of the city centre. A ceremonial stone was placed, and around two dozen members of the community gathered to watch the blessing.

The community follows the teachings of Shri Guru Ravidass Ji, who was born in Uttar Pradesh, India in 1377 CE.

Their place of worship is called a Bhawan, and the Bradford community currently use the upper floors of a building on Brearton Street, Manningham Lane.

They have been looking for a new site for years, and said the newly built Bhawan would be much more suitable for all members - as their existing base requires elderly members to climb flights of stairs.

Currently the Bradford community is made up of around 130 members.

The group were given planning permission for the new Bhawan in 2014, and the building is being constructed by Shipley based builders True North Developments. It is their first major construction project.

The Irish Club closed in December 2013, and members voted to sell the building shortly after. A drop in trade had led to the club struggling to make ends meet.

The Ravidassia community purchased the site, and the 1970s Irish Club buildings was demolished.

The surrounding areas include several empty buildings, and it is hoped the new Bhawan, with a domed tower, could bring more life to the area.

Richard Mitchell, MD of True North Developments, said: “At the moment we are looking at an October completion date. It is a good project - a nice job for the company’s first big project.”

Relationship Director of Lloyds Bank Ben Cutts told the Telegraph & Argus that the bank had seen the financial support as being a great way to help the local community.

Ram Saroop, a spokesman for the group, said around 130 members currently use the existing Bhawan. He added that at weddings or other services there could be as many as 500 people in attendance.