Union Theological College in south Belfast will today, Monday 12 September at 12 noon, finally open a £2.2m extension to its historic building at 108 Botanic Avenue, after the original extension was destroyed in a fire just days away from the original opening planned for nearly two years ago. As the College is a listed building, the work was grant aided by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

The Training Resource Centre, as the extension is known, was nearing completion in November 2009 when fire swept through the almost completed building burning through the roof and causing structural damage to the walls. It was thought the fire was a malicious attack.

Fortunately no damage was caused to the main part of the 160 year old historic building owned by the Presbyterian Church, and the training of Presbyterian ministers and provision of theological courses for students at Queen's University has continued despite the ongoing building work.

"The fire was heartbreaking for all those who had put so much work into planning and building the new extension," explains Rev Trevor Gribben, Deputy Clerk of the Presbyterian Church and Secretary of the College Management Committee. "However, such was their commitment that, after the fire, they started again and today's opening will bring great satisfaction to them in overcoming all the setbacks to complete a project that is so important to them."

The Training Resource Centre, which will be officially opened by former Moderator, Very Rev Dr Stafford Carson, comprises of a large lecture and conference room and two seminar rooms providing a contemporary training environment for students and lecturers alike.

A range of Presbyterian Boards also work in partnership with Union and use the College as a base for their training courses. The Youth and Children's Ministry offers a certificate in Youth Ministry, designed to support leaders in a church based youth ministry. Starting in January 2012, the Board of Mission in Ireland will begin a new evening course for the training of evangelists under the Accredited Preacher programme, which will be held at Union College over a period of ten weeks.