NEW windows and doors have been installed at a historic town centre church to give it a more welcoming feel.

St John’s Church, in Church Road, Southend, recently underwent a £500,000 refurbishment to update the building, built in the 19th century.

Last week, builders got to work putting in three sets of new glass doors and lowering the windows in the church’s porch.

The Reverend Stephen Burdett, the rector of Southend, said the aim was to make the church more open to the community.

Mr Burdett said: “This is the completion of the first phase of work at St John’s.

“People often ask me if the church is closed, so this will let them see in and see what a lovely place it is. Next, we are going to raise money so we can build an extension to the side of the church and put some new toilets in there.

“We are looking at about £100,000 for that.”

In 2006, the church installed new flooring and colour floodlighting for its stained glass windows, as well as restoring the pews and First World War memorial.