IMAGES of how Thornbury’s parish church could look after an £850,000 reordering project are to go on display this weekend.

People living in Thornbury are invited to a public meeting this Saturday, July 24, about plans to transform St Mary’s Church.

Proposals for reordering the 12th century church have been in the pipeline for several years, but church leaders have said they are now just months away from making an application.

Rev David Primrose, vicar at St Mary’s Church, said: "Over the last few months the church council and the architects have done a lot of work in developing the plans in the agreed direction and we are now at the stage where we can present the overall scheme, with the intention of seeking permissions in September."

The plans, which will cost an estimated £850,000, will include removing the Victorian wooden pews and replacing them with more flexible seating.

It is also proposed to build a Mezzanine floor to create extra meeting rooms, to upgrade the kitchen and toilet facilities, lay new flooring and introduce a smaller alter.

Mr Primrose said the church wants to make the building more user friendly by creating more floor space and establishing a fellowship area for people to use.

"This is about ensuring that the parish church is available to meet the needs of the whole community, treasuring the past, living in the present and looking forward to the future," he said.

However, last year more than 400 local people signed a petition against the proposals. The campaigners claimed the reordering was too radical and would destroy the church's character.

Church leaders hope the application will go before the Diocesan Advisory Committee, which is made up of architects and conservationists, in September.

The plans will eventually need the approval of the Diocesan Chancellor for any work to go ahead.

The reordering meeting is being held at St Mary’s Church, Thornbury, on Saturday, July 24 (4pm).

Anyone unable to attend the meeting can contact the vicarage or visit www.Thornburyparish.org