ST THOMAS’S Church in Salisbury has temporarily closed.

It is due to reopen on Sunday, February 9. The closure is to allow for extensive work to be carried out to the floor, seating and nave altar areas.

Reverend Kelvin, the rector of St Thomas’s and St Edmund’s parish, said on the church’s website: “Although the building closes, the life of St Thomas’s will continue - Church without Church.”

During the closure Sunday morning services are being held at alternative locations. On Sunday, a service is being held at Salisbury Methodist Church, at 10.30am. The following Sunday there is a service at Salisbury Cathedral 10.30am.

Monday to Friday morning prayer and holy communion will continue in the ground floor Canterbury Room in St Thomas’s House. On Tuesday and Saturdays, except Saturday, January 18), refreshments will be served throughout the morning in the ground floor of the Canterbury Room in St Thomas’s House. There will not be a book stall.

The church previously launched its Quest 2020 campaign, which is still ongoing, to raise funds to carry out the various works to refurbish the building.

Restoration work was carried out at the church over the summer.

Work so far has included repairs to the church building, cleaning and repairs to the Doom painting, which dates from 1470, as well as the restoration and cleaning of the ceilings to uncover the medieval paint, carved angels and memorials.

During the closure, all the pews will be removed from the nave and there will be new seating of three and five seat bench-style pews, which will “increase comfort” and give capacity to move seating for concerts and other events.

The floor of the nave, will be “patched, improved and retreated”, which the church says is the “main reason for the prolonged closure”.

Go to stthomassalisbury.co.uk or call 01722 322 537.