Pews and the pipe organ will go as part of a £100,000 project to make a Romsey church more modern and user-friendly.

Romsey Methodist Church, in The Hundred, will have chairs and a small electric organ following a refurbishment which is hoped to take place next year The Renewal project got off to a fantastic start with three quarters of the £100,000 budget being pledged at a gift day.

A spokesperson for the church said: “We were really encouraged. A lot of people were giving rather than a few people giving a lot.”

It is also planned to remodel the front porch area, currently used for not much besides storing hymn books, so it can be used for the serving of tea and coffee.

This front area, which will also include a WC, will be pushed forward into the main body of the church from which it will be separated by a glass screen.

There will be no space lost in the main church, thanks to the removal of the organ which currently sits behind the altar, and there will be no changes to the outward appearance of the building which dates back to 1882.

It is hoped that the church’s monthly fair trade cafe will be able to move from the church hall to the porch area. The church also hopes to attract more community users for the church once the space is no longer restricted by the pews.

The plans will go on show at the church’s Autumn Fair on November 1 from 10.30am to 3pm.

Linked to its Renewal appeal, the church will also be raising money for three charities – Teso Development Trust, Romsey Family Support Group and Romsey Young Carers.