AMBITIOUS plans to make a Dunbar church more accessible and attractive to the town’s residents are being drawn up.

Discussions about the future of St Anne’s Episcopal Church, on Westgate, have been ongoing for more than a year.

The Rev Andrew Bain told the Courier the church was putting together an application for funding to “enhance our service to local people and our members”.

The church opened for worship in May 1890, although an Episcopal community had been meeting in the town’s Corn Exchange since 1874.

Now, there are plans to see the church open seven days a week to allow people to use it for prayer, services and concerts.

Mr Bain, who joined the church last February, said: “The location, just off High Street, is ideal and we are already used quite a lot for concerts and talks.

“We would like to do more of that and have the building open every day of the week for groups, classes, talks, workshops – you name it.” First on the list of improvements would be to upgrade accessibility within the building. Alterations, ramps and disabled toilets are planned, as well as the lowering of interior steps to allow full access for anyone with mobility issues.

A new kitchen could also be created at the rear of the church, with improved heating and lighting.

A forward podium with new altar, modernising the worship space while staying in “sympathy with the traditional beauty of the building”, is also earmarked as one of the improvements.

The podium will also double as performance space for concert groups and other performers or speakers.

Mr Bain added: “Our hope is that these improvements will make the building more accessible for all and of service to the following groups among others: young people – through audio/visual facilities, First World War chapel curriculum links, school visits, a more comfortable and attractive worship environment.

“The elderly and disabled – through access improvements, audio/visual facilities, kitchen facilities for group and other events, an increased daytime concert programme; “Tourists/visitors to Dunbar – through opening a historic and beautiful building at the heart of the town as a place of interest and prayer for all.” Funding applications are already being considered by various bodies, with more applications being submitted in the coming months.

Mr Bain was unable to say when any work would start on the building but added that they were keen to see it get under way as soon as possible.