ST Thomas’s Church in Salisbury is to get transparent front doors in an effort to become more inviting to visitors - both during the day and night.

Canon Reverend David Linaker said the 800-year-old church needed “21st century kerb appeal” in order to ensure it presented a “living community of faith” rather than a museum.

Speaking at the Southern Area Planning Committee on Thursday, Mr Linaker said: “The context of this is that the arrival of Cote Brasserie in St Thomas’s Square radically changed the night time life of the square and forced us to think about what the church looks like at night: a closed, dead, empty and unwelcoming facade.”

Wiltshire Council’s planning officer recommended the application for refusal based on English Heritage’s objections which said the glass doors would “significantly alter” the character and appearance of the church in a “detrimental” way and would have a “harmful impact on the character and appearance” of the Conservation Area.

But in challenging English Heritages stance, Mr Linaker said: “We wish to enhance rather than detract from the beauty of the conservation area “I recognise fully that this is a subjective matter but perhaps those of us who love and live with the building and its environment everyday are best placed to make that judgment rather than someone based in an office in Bristol.”

He added: “Nothing is being done here that damages the historic fabric or would not be reversible by succeeding generations should they so wish.

“A basically transparent entrance would allow visitors to see our medieval Doom and painted ceiling outside of opening hours – this will be a good shop window 24 hours a day. After all one would never say to a shop keeper that his potential customers should not be able to view his wares outside of business hours.

“This project is not trivial – we are seeking to enhance and secure the future of one of Salisbury’s finest treasures.”

The existing wooden doors at the western entrance date back to the 19th or 20th century and will be pinned back inside the church.

Councillor Ian McLennan said: “I do value this building and the thing I like about it is when the doors are shut, you wonder what’s inside, then you open the doors and go in and the world changes significantly.

“It’s a Grade I listed building and we are supposed to be keeping them like that not changing it and modernising it.”

Eight councillors voted in favour of the application with one voting against and one abstention.