WORK to transform a dilapidated Tottington church into a more appealing place to worship, as well as a venue for community groups, has got underway.

The renovation project at the Grade II listed St John's Free Church, in Kirklees Street, which is being led by the Friends of St John's Tottington, was boosted by a £130,000 grant from not-for-profit firm Viridor Credits.

The presbytery area of the church will be used by the congregation, with the remaining area set to be used as a community space.

It will provide a new home for the Tottington Amateur Dramatic Society (TADOS), providing a place for performances and rehearsals, with other community groups set to benefit from the use of the area.

The money is funding the current phase of the project, which includes the installation of heating and lighting, creating a changing room for TADOS and creating two other new rooms.

It will also fund a new kitchen, which will be used to run cooking courses for people who are less able to cook for themselves, as well as a cafe in the summer months.

The Friends say the alterations will allow the building to be more flexible, creating a space suitable for events such as public meetings, dance and exercise classes and youth clubs.

Before the current phase of work, members of the congregation, TADOS members and people from local businesses carried out preparatory work, moving seven tonnes of rubble and brick from the basement, and removing the pews in the church.

Four of the pews will be refurbished by a charity which supports men over the age of 50 who are out of work to retrain in furniture-making.

The fabric of the church is now said to be in good repair.

The Right Reverend John Fenwick, Bishop Primus of the Free Church of England, and chairman of the Friends, said: "St John’s in Tottington is the oldest Free Church of England Church building in the whole of the UK.

"It is regarding as being rather special and we are grateful to Viridor for supporting us with grant aid and mentoring us through our winding path towards completion of this phase in our work programme."

The church has been home to a congregation of the Free Church of England, a breakaway from the Church of England, since 1867.

The Friends group was initially set up in 2008, when it successfully applied for cash from English Heritage to deal with roof problems, and to treat dry rot.