THE first phase of a £900,000 plan to renovate a Malvern town centre church got under way this week.

The Lansdowne Crescent Methodist Church has spent the last few years preparing its vision of the future.

The Lansdowne Development Plan includes new entrances to the church that are accessible to the disabled.

It also includes a lift linking the two floors of the building, new meeting rooms, a new kitchen and a new heating system.

The meeting rooms are set to be equipped with modern audio/visual facilities which the church says are much sought after in Malvern. The total cost of the project is expected to be approximately £900,000.

This week, the church heard that it has relieved its first grant of £35,000 from the South West Worcestershire Methodist Circuit.

Rev Alison Richards said: "The whole project began in 2014, with a review of the church and of the work that the church does.

"The church is already very involved in the community, with our cafe every Tuesday, and we also provide a venue for a number of community groups.

"But accessibility is a problem, which we intend to solve with the new entrances and the lift connecting the upstairs and downstairs of the church.

"The church hopes to build on its connections with the community and offer further support, especially to the elderly, providing a lifeline for those who live alone. With our new catering facilities, we hope to be able to offer lunches for these people.

The church was granted planning permission in February, and it is hoped that work on the heating system can begin soon, to replace the existing boiler, which is failing, before the winter.

Malvern mayor Cynthia Palmer paid a visit this week and congratulated the church for its vision for the future.

Mrs Richards said: "She is very supportive of our plan to provide improved facilities for the community."

A grant application to the Methodist Church in Britain is being submitted in the autumn and fundraising events are planned for the future.