A £450,000 project to make Calne Methodist Church more suitable for today's 21st century congregation was shown off at its 126th anniversary on Sunday 12th.

The church, built in 1876, has been completely revamped, with its pews ripped out and replaced with chairs and its old traditional organ replaced with an electric one which was flown in from America.

It is hoped the church's new, more modern look will attract younger people and increase congregation numbers, which have been dropping across the country.

Silver Street's minister the Rev Stanley Pippet said it was a very special day in the church's history.

The Rev Dr John Newton, former president of the Methodist Conference, was invited to take Sunday's special service, where people were so keen to have a look at the improvements that more chairs had to be brought in.

"The concern has been to make these premises suitable for the 21st century," said Dr Newton.

"I first came here for the first time some months ago for a meeting when the work was all going on. To see it now, beautified and complete and furnished with faces is a great joy."

The entire project, which has included a total refurbishment of the church hall, kitchen, toilets, and a new and welcoming, large entrance hall, has cost in the region of £450,000.

A meeting room and more storage space has also been created, and the new electronic organ is complemented by a hi-tech speaker system.

More than £200,000 of the money was raised by selling off land at the Rec' owned by the church. More than £100,000 was collected in grants and donations from charities and funds, and almost £100,000 was raised by the active 100-strong congregation.

Alan Bristow, the architect behind the revamp, said: "The whole project has been about three or four years in the making. We started cleaning the outside two years ago, and work started inside last year.

"Despite the building and disruption the church kept going all the way through. When work was going on in the church they met in the hall, and when there was work in the hall they could use the church.

"We wanted to make this church suitable for the next generation and one of the keys to that is it is multi-purpose."