A church which has welcomed a host of famous names ahead of its multi-million-pound transformation has closed its doors.

St Mildred's Church in Tenterden will remain shut until the end of July while it undergoes a raft of changes as part of its restoration project.

Plans were first put forward in 2018 to upgrade and extend the 12th century building in the town's high street.

Up to £2.2 million will be spent on the project, which, once complete, will ensure the nave offers a vast space for concerts, exhibitions and conferences in a bid to draw people in from the wider community.

The first stage of the scheme, known as Phase 1A, saw the church's pews removed and replaced with chairs in 2020.

Yesterday, almost five years on, work begun on its next chapter, which will see £850,000 spent on new stone flooring to replace its current parquet design, as well as the installation of new underfloor heating.

Chairman of the St Mildred’s Transformation Group, Martin Vink, 70, says it will result in a more flexible worship space and support a range of community uses.

Ashford Borough Council's (ABC) former long-serving planning manager explained: "It is an important day for us and the start of this phase.

"It involves putting in underfloor heating in the church which will be powered by air-sourced heat pumps in the churchyard.

"This will not only be sustainable, but we are confident it will make the church a much more welcoming space.

"Over the last few weeks with the really cold weather it hasn't been the warmest place to be, and so we are aiming to change that so people can use the church for worship or for other things that a community like Tenterden needs.

"Secondly, this wonderful new flat floor will be the same level throughout the whole of the church which will make it easy for everybody."

St Mildred's attracted Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley and Bargain Hunt presenter Tim Wonnacott in May as part of its fundraising efforts.

Five months later, Wimbledon host Clare Balding visited the site at the request of the church's fundraising committee to oversee an auction to raise funds for the scheme.

Once work is complete on its ongoing Phase 1B scheme in the summer, members of St Mildred's will seek to push forward with the second stage of its transformation.

This will see the church ditch its existing lighting of 25 years in favour of new LED spotlights which will see up to 16 different worship leading positions available with the new floor.

This is alongside new external lampposts to add to the church's existing ones outside which will illuminate the building more clearly.

Plans were also approved by ABC in September for the church to have a major extension.

A new single-storey building, 223.5 m sq in size, will see the creation of a new benefice office and five toilets with facilities for baby change and disabled users compared to its current one.

This is as well as the addition of a kitchen and green room via a new corridor with access to the churchyard at both ends, plus re-laid paths outside.

Members say the extension is required for "fundamental church and community need and to continue to provide for all needs, age groups, abilities and functions".

Mr Vink, who served as a governor at Highworth Grammar School for Girls for more than 20 years, added: "We're still fundraising to improve the lighting inside the church.

"But because the Listed Places of Worship (LPW) Grant Scheme is ending in March we are going to have to find £140,000 from money which would have covered the VAT for the scheme.

“We hoped that would have paid for most of the lighting.

"So we will keep going, continue to raise funds and complete Phase 1B.

"In terms of the extension that is some way off despite us having planning permission for it.

"In the background, we are still working up the detailed designs so that in a few years time we can be in a position for that to go ahead.

"But we are very excited as it's a big undertaking."

St Mildred's, which has seen its cemetery closed to new burials since 1903 and whose western tower stands almost 40 metres tall, will see its Sunday services held in the town's Church Hall directly opposite while work is carried out.

Meanwhile, baptisms, weddings, funerals and other life events will continue to be held across other churches in the area.

Cllr Kate Walder says the changes will benefit residents moving forward.

The Greens representative for Rolvenden & Tenterden West said: "St Mildred's is critical for our community and civic life here in Tenterden.

"As a building and institution it improves the quality of life for people here and is central for things like food banks and during the pandemic too.

"It will be difficult for some people initially with the closure, but they see the wonderful long-term proposal which will guarantee the church a good future."