A well-used town centre church is looking to double the number of worshippers it can accommodate in a £5 million expansion.
The proposal, for Christ Church in Tunbridge Wells High Street, would see the number of seats increase from 180 to 360, as well as the addition of a gallery and new 30-seat side chapel.
Rooms for children, youth and office space would also be reconfigured.
At the same time, the intention is to modernise the lighting, heating and kitchen and provide accessible toilets and step-free access.
The whole project would see the church expand by 650 sq m – a 63% increase in space.
It has been costed at £5.086m, but leaders say the building has grown tired and that essential repairs alone would cost £1.6m.
The windows, sanctuary floor, toilets and heating system all need urgent attention.
If the parochial church council is granted planning approval, the alterations will take place in three phases.
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A fundraising target of £3.5m has been set for phase one of what is being called the Kingdom Building project, and already £300,000 has been donated.
Leaders said that by redeveloping the building and facilities, Christ Church can “bring God’s vision to life and create a home for our mission as a church”.
The plans include building a new five-bedroom house for church staff, accessed from Christ Church Avenue, which would see a reduction in the church’s parking spaces from 21 to nine.
Donations to the project can be made here.
The church, which replaced a chapel of ease built on the site in 1859, is a comparatively modern building, dating from 1997.
It is one of the best-used churches in the town, with sometimes 500 people worshipping there over the course of a Sunday.
