Anxious villagers fear they will “lose part of their history” as plans have been submitted to turn a redundant church into a holiday let.

Appledore Methodist Church was sold at auction last year for £220,950, smashing its guide price by more than £30,000.

Now proposals have been lodged with Ashford Borough Council to convert the 1836-built site into a holiday let, including the partial demolition of a rear extension.

If approved, the scheme would provide two double bedrooms at the front of the building in The Street, as well an open-plan kitchen, games and cinema room.

But the plans, submitted by Ruckinge-based John Flynn, are facing criticism from villagers who fear they are "losing another part of the village".

Nicky Whiting, who has lived in a property just a few doors down from the church since the age of three, told KentOnline she was “very sad to see the church go in the first place”.

“The church used to be a great meeting point for the elderly to have coffee mornings,” she said.

“It is such a shame. This is another piece of Appledore that I have always known to be here.

“We are losing more of our history!”

The 51-year-old believes the village “does not need even more holiday homes” and would much rather the empty church be transformed into a community space for locals.

She added: “My dad was a local policeman here for 20 years. He would cry his eyes out if he saw all the changes happening down here.

“I just hope they do not change the look of the building completely, it must stay in keeping with the area.

“I would much rather it stayed as a meeting point for people in the village.”

The building had a major refurbishment in 1988 which made it more suitable for coffee mornings and other gatherings.

In his application, Mr Flynn states the scheme will keep all external features and detailing "ensure its historic status and on-street presence is not only retained but enhanced".

And he says the proposed layout has been “carefully considered to significantly reduce any overlooking concerns upon the neighbouring properties”.

But Elizabeth Mitchell, who lives next to the church, is worried about potential noise issues which could come with the holiday home.

“This is a quiet village,” the Appledore resident of 12 years said.

“You could get hen parties, stag dos and god knows what.

“I live right next door so I don't want parties happening all weekend.”

Despite her concerns, Cllr Roger Hiskey, chairman of Appledore Parish Council, supports the proposed changes.

While saying it was “sad” the church had closed he accepted “it could not stay open forever”.

“I don't object to the plans," he said.

“I am very sorry to see that the church has gone, but I support the changes.

“The Methodist Church decided to sell the building and it was not really being used.

“In the later years, it only had a very small congregation of about four people. With the costs of running the church could not stay open forever.”

Mr Flynn submitted plans earlier this year to convert the building into two separate homes but withdrew the project due to concerns over privacy and limited off-road parking.

He says his revised proposal "addresses the previous concerns" and will "offer high-end facilities to visiting guests".

The rear extension is set to be removed to allow for a private garden, which would be accessed by a path running along the northern boundary of the site.

Despite the closure of the church, methodists still meet regularly in each other's houses to worship in the village.