A 200-year-old church in Chatham town centre has welcomed back locals after a major refurbishment.

Over the last two years St John’s Church in Railway Street has undergone a £4 million restoration.

Vital repairs have been completed at the Grade II* listed church, plus the addition of new community facilities such as meeting rooms, a kitchen and a café.

The church, originally built in the 1800s to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo, was shut in 1997 and mothballed for around 25 years.

During those years it suffered significant damage and it was placed on Historic England’s list of most “at risk” buildings in the UK.

Now, the much-needed restoration has helped breathed new life into the church, with the roof entirely replaced to fix decades-long water leaks.

Other works included stonework repairs, heating upgrades and restoring the iconic stained glass windows.

Alongside the physical changes, the church will also host community groups and local businesses as a venue for concerts, conferences and meetings.

Community leaders and members of the 100-person congregation were invited to an event to celebrate the latest milestone.

Among the attendees was Medway Council leader Vince Maple, who said: “This project has been the epitome of the One Medway approach, with so many partners coming together to restore this treasured building into a space our entire community can enjoy and benefit from.”

Those who oversaw the project, delivered by the Diocese of Rochester, believe it has put the church back on the map as a “hub of hope for the community.”

The Rev Martyn Saunders, Bishop’s Mission Order leader, said: “This truly is a story of faith, hope, and determination, with many people never giving up on the hope of seeing community, mission and ministry taking place once again at St John’s Chatham.”

The church, believed to be Chatham’s first public building to be lit by electricity, is now open to the public seven days a week.

The building work was delivered by Kent-based contractor Coniston Ltd, and largely funded by a £2.3 million grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Medway Council also awarded £1 million from the government-backed Future High Streets Fund.

Other funders included the Rochester Bridge Trust, The Friends of Kent Churches, The Benefact Trust, The National Churches Trust, and The Dorothy Kerin Trust.

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