ROSYTH Parish Church’s exterior already looks heavenly – and now its interior is set to look divine, thanks to a £300,000 refurbishment.

Phase one of the church’s Community and Heritage Development Project was completed last year, which saw the roof reslated, windows replaced and dry rot eradicated at a cost of £340,000.

Now phases two, three and four are now well underway, with the church set to get new heating and lighting systems, insulation and a tea kitchen.

The vestibule area will also be upgraded to create cafe facilities and the organ gallery converted into a hall.

The congregation fund-raised for the work, with funding also coming from various organisations, including £50,000 from the Fife Environmental Trust, £30,000 from the Community Covenant and £20,000 each from the Robertson Trust and Joseph Rank Foundation.

The Ferguson Bequest, Baird Trust, Carnegie Dunfermline Trust and Fife Council’s Community Chest donated £5000 each, and other donors included the Church of Scotland General Trustees, Beatrice Laing Foundation and Gothenburg Trust. Deacon Morag Crawford said. “We’re looking forward to work being completed and the congregation hope to be back in the building by early summer. People are quite excited about it – it’s been nine years in the planning and we’re coming to the end of it. Hopefully with the development to the building, the church will be available for community use, concerts and conferences.

“We’re also looking for funding for chairs and tables for the building, so if people want to donate one for a special birthday or anniversary, or in memory of a loved one, it would be welcome and will be recorded in a book.” There are also plans for a £100,000 commemorative garden and walkway, with memorial plaques commemorating the world wars, and the history of Rosyth Garden City and Dockyard.

Morag added, “It will be the centenary of Rosyth Garden City in 2016 and it would be good to have funding in place.” Enquiries and donations can be made online at www.rosyth.org.