STOURPORT Methodists have done more than raise the roof - they have removed it completely as part of major refurbishments costing £500,000.

The re-roofing of the grade II listed Wesley Methodist Church will cost £200,000 and is expected to take three months to complete.

The work is the latest stage in the repair and improvements of the building, which dates from the 1780s and is one of the oldest in the town. It has taken seven years of fund-raising and the revamped church, due to re-open in the autumn, will feature a coffee bar/drop in centre and rooms available for community use in addition to the refurbished church.

Historic features such as the marble and alabaster sanctuary, the 1830s Nicholson pipe organ and much of the Victorian/Georgian pews will be retained.

A moveable glass screen separating the coffee lounge from the main church will incorporate an etched design by a local artist.

Major work was necessary after movement of the walls over the years caused cracking, which was allowing water to penetrate, and the heating system had needed replacing.

Rev Paul Booth said the coffee lounge would be an attractive venue opening on to the church garden, which leads on to the High Street.

"I'm very pleased with the way the project has gone," he added. "It's been a lot of hard work for the people of the church to raise that amount of money."

Members and friends of the church have raised a staggering £140,000 towards the restoration and a £15,000 grant from the Historic Churches Preservation Trust has just been secured - the first of its kind to a Methodist church.

Pledges totalling a further £300,000 had already been raised, including £170,000 obtained through Methodist circles and grants of £79,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £35,000 from Welcome to Our Future through the Severn Waste Environmental Fund.