A CONGREGATION will hold a last service in their church in its current state before it is brought into the 21st century. Dursley Tabernacle Church is about to start its re-ordering process and next Sunday will be the last time the congregation will see it in its current condition.

After Sunday all worship sessions will move to the church hall while work gets underway on refurbishing the 200-year-old church.

Simon Helme, minister of the church said: "The majority of church members are fully supportive of this project. There will obviously be some sadness on the day because we will say goodbye to something that has been with us for so long but I think there will be a sense of nervous excitement for the new work to be done.

"Times change and the church hasn’t been refurbished since the 1870s. The changes will offer greater safety, greater comfort and greater flexibility."

The pews in the church will be replaced with more comfortable chairs and there will be new lighting, sound system and projection screens.

The work will cost in the region of £80,000 and it is hoped it will be complete by September in time for the last of the church’s bicentenary celebrations.