Megachurch Hillsong has opened the doors to its new permanent home in Brisbane's centre, showcasing the renovations undertaken on the former Lyceum Theatre on George Street.
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The extensive restorations included removing a projection room built in the 1960s that had divided the original single theatre into two, creating a 600-seat space for the church's services.
Services began on Friday but the official opening will take place on December 21 as the church's congregation makes its final move from a temporary home in the Pullman Hotel.
Hillsong's first campus in Brisbane was at Mt Gravatt, with another campus in Springfield.
Hillsong Queensland pastor Steve Dixon said it was hoped having a permanent home for the church would allow for growth and outreach in community services around the city's centre.
"When we get our own venue ... that can be seven days a week, the growth of the chuch is quite significant," he said.
"Part of the reason is we're not just a Sunday church, as it were.
"The work that we do with Hillsong City Care, the projects we get involved with, the schools, all sorts of work ... we're heavily involved in working in the space of domestic and family violence, so if you're part of a Hillsong church you get to be part of activities, projects, for lots of things.
"We're expecting significant growth in the city."
Mr Dixon said Hillsong had secured a long lease on the former Dendy theatre.
The group began renovation work on the theatre in April with a focus on keeping as many original features as possible, including the false balconies in the walls of the theatre.
Below the stairs, the original generator that ran the entire theatre was restored and placed behind the original glass doors of the theatre for safekeeping.
The theatre itself was painted black and new lighting, sound systems and screens were installed on the stage for the church's weekly services.
In the foyer, elements of the theatre's film history were maintained above a small coffee shop.
The city central campus is led by pastors Tim and Michelle Andrew, who have led the four-year-old campus through numerous short-term locations including the Judith Wright Centre in Fortitude Valley before the congregation size became too big.
"We've been taking them on, this year, a whole journey getting them ready for this," Mrs Andrew said.
The Lyceum Theatre had been empty for several years after last operating as the Tribal Theatre in 2011, but despite being one of the oldest and most storied theatres in the city, has no heritage protections or listings.
The Lyceum was Brisbane's first purpose-built silent movie theatre when it opened on April 10, 1909.
A key focus for Hillsong in its new home will be to hold Friday night services, a tradition begun in Brisbane almost 10 years ago to combat full Sunday services when the congregation first arrived in Mt Gravatt.
Mr Dixon said other churches around the world had tried to emulate the concept, but for some reason Brisbane had been the only place it worked.
