A Burley-in-Wharfedale congregation is preparing to "return from exile" as work on transforming its historic church nears completion.

Members of Burley Methodist Church have been forced to worship at Burley Oaks School and Salem United Reformed Church for the last eight months to clear the way for a £630,000-plus modernisation scheme.

But now, with a handing over of the keys ceremony fixed for Friday, September 13, the end of the constructive disruption is in sight.

Chairman of the church's redevelopment committee Ron Gray said: "It's been a long haul because apart from the redevelopment itself this has been six years in the making with all the designing, getting plans approved and everything else.

"We've been in exile for nearly nine months now without any building of our own, so we are really looking forward to moving into our 'new' church.

"Some of the rooms will be available to the community to hire out and it will be nice to play that more active community role."

The whole village got behind a massive fund-raising drive to pay for the ambitious revamp, which was boosted by the sale of the church hall earlier in the year.

A Grade II listed building which opened in 1867, the church will now have portable furniture in its worship area to allow things to be moved around to suit different types of events.

A fellowship room and church office have also been added, with a hall and several smaller rooms upstairs and modern kitchen and toilet facilities created downstairs.

Church press officer Dennis Bolton said: "We are very close to the end now and everyone is very much looking forward to getting back into our modernised church and making full use of all the new facilities.

"It has so happened that the first service in the redeveloped church will be on Sunday, September 22, the Harvest Festival, which is quite apt.

"After that we will look forward to the official dedication of the church on October 19, which will really mark the project's completion."

The Reverend Philip MacDonald, minister in Burley for eight years before leaving this summer for a new post in Leicestershire, helped steer the scheme and will return to lead the service at the official opening ceremony.

He will be joined by the Chairman of the Leeds Methodist District, the Reverend Michael Townsend. The physical work may be almost over, but the church is still fund-raising to cover all the costs of the redevelopment.

l Anyone who would like to help can contact Mr Bolton on 01943 864436.