HOLY Trinity Church in Minchinhampton has received a generous £50,000 grant to help with the long-planned refurbishment.

The grant donated by Gloucestershire Environmental Trust will help pay for a replacement of the current wooden floor and new pews.

There is also an intention to install a new stone floor at one level throughout the main body of the church, this will provide a flexible space and improved disabled access and will allow the installation of under-floor heating.

Church wardens Mandy Jutsum and Howard Browning were delighted with the grant.

“The refurbishments will create a greater space and allow us to be much more flexible in the type and size of events that can take place in the church,” said Mandy.

“The Victorian pews, which were of low quality when installed and have gradually deteriorated since, will be replaced by specially-designed, award-winning chairs which will again enhance the flexibility of the new layout.”

The work, which has just started, is now on target for completion in February 2018.

However, the works programme will however allow the church to be fully used over the Advent and Christmas period, with the final floor finish being laid shortly after.