A STOURBRIDGE church has reopened after a £700,000 revamp aimed at providing new facilities to benefit the entire community.

The completion of the eight-month building project marks the end of years of planning and negotiations designed to provide a new home for a range of community groups in state-of-the-art surroundings to compliment a modernising mood among committee members.

Trevor Manning, from the church building committee, said: “It’s a wonderful development that unites the past with the future and one that will better serve the community.

“We have been working on this for eight years, the external appearance of the new porch and extension compliment the original design.”

“Perhaps not everybody is happy about changing from pews to chairs but we can’t continue to sit in the past.”

The current church building, which has been extended during the makeover, dates back to 1928 although there has been a church on the town centre site since 1805.

Work based on designs by Peter Brocklesby transformed the interior of the church to provide improved toilet and kitchen facilities, extra meeting rooms and a new mezzanine level with a viewing gallery over main church, choir stalls and alter.

Funding for the project came from the sale of the church’s neighbouring school rooms for development into luxury apartments.

Wherever possible, builders found uses for raw materials from the old church, including wood from the original pews, which was converted into skirting boards.

The church also boasts a high-tech security system and lift providing access for disabled users to upper levels.

A major beneficiary of the works is the Robin Woods Ecumenical Library which moved to the church in 2003.

The library is open to members of the public and will be one of the many church features on show during an open day on Saturday September 27.

The open day, which starts at 10am, will feature a Fair Trade Stall, displays and information about the church, a children’s corner, musical interludes and refreshments.

For more information on booking rooms at the church for community events, call Sandra Stevens on 01384 379381.