A church and a mosque in America have developed a 'beautiful relationship', after the imam offered local Christians a home while their church waited for a new building.

The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lansing, in Michigan, was in need of a temporary home after delays in construction to its new building left it without a site to meet.

The Islamic Society of Greater Lansing mosque heard about the situation and offered its building to the church in solidarity, totally free of charge.

"No charge whatsoever," said Rev Kathryn Bert, pastor of the church.

"It's been a lovely story to live. It has been a beautiful relationship."

The church has been meeting in the mosque building on Sundays since April 3.

"It worked out well for us both," Sohail Chaudhry, the imam of the Islamic Society told the Lansing State Journal.

He hoped the collaboration would "provide an example to other faith-based communities around the nation".

In gratitude, the church dedicated its tithe from one Sunday to the mosque, which the mosque plans to donate to Islamic Relief USA, which works to help resettle refugees.

The church plans to move into its new building, an "upcycled school", by May this year.