CHRIST Church in Wharton is gearing up for a £300,000 revamp.

The church has stood for almost 175 years and in that time has never seen any major renovation works.

However, reverend Tim Hanson says the work is urgently needed as the church is no longer safe.

Reverend Hanson said: “It’s got to be done for safety reasons but also to allow people to use the building properly. Basically the thing is falling down.

“We’re going to have all new furniture and new sound equipment. We’re going to have a new room in the tower as well.

“We have to maintain the ecclesial character of the building, which we will do of course.

“Only the insides of the organ are going, the external part is a war memorial and we’ve got to keep that. The memorial stones will be kept. It will very much keep its ecclesial fell, its church feel.”

The work is expected to last at least six months, though it is likely to take longer. Reverend Hanson said he hopes the work is completed by Easter 2016.

While the work is being completed, all of the church’s regular activities will be moved to Willow Wood Community Primary School.

“The Diocese of Chester has given us the full permission to do this,” Reverend Hanson said. “We’re not that far off from raising the money so we’re hoping to start in the summer holidays.”

Much of the money to fund the work has come from church donations over the last five years.

However, WREN (Waste Recycling Environmental Limited) has given £50,000 towards the project, the highest amount they grant for community projects.

The work is expected to cost upwards of £300,000.

Reverend Hanson said: “It’s costing hundreds of thousands of pounds, and we’ve got this grant from WREN.

“People have pledged little bits over five years so we’re not far off the final figure.”

Richard Smith, WREN grant manager for Cheshire, said: “The church is in an area where something like that is desperately needed in the community, so we’re quite pleased about that.

“Putting something back into the community and making a difference is one of our priorities.”