'AMAZING' is the first word that pops into one's head when they see the transformation of a church in the heart of the city.

Last January exposed brick and strategically placed wooden planks were a prominent theme in Wesley Memorial Church as its Open Doors project was well under way.

Now a new hall, kitchen, meeting rooms and toilets are in its place with the crown jewel being a stained glass window that overlooks the refurbished main hall.

Derek Rawson, Cumnor resident and chairman of the project steering group, said he was 'amazed' at the church's transformation.

He said: "It is astonishing really and we are so pleased with how everything has turned out.

"The stain glass window was made by Oxford artist Vital Peeters and I think there were about five revisions before we came up with this design.

"We've called it our 'Amazing Love' window as the symbolism in the window is very significant to our church.

"And last month we held a fantastic musical written by Jack Godfrey called 'Amazing Love', which chronicled the story of John and Charles Wesley."

The money for the stained glass window was donated by one of the church members who 'loves stained glass windows.'

More than 45 charities and organisations will benefit from the redevelopment project.

Walking into what had been a mound of dirt and earth at the back of the church, parishioners toasted the new commercial kitchen, which they hope other community groups will be able to use.

Mel McCulloch, children's, families and outreach worker at the church, said: "At the moment I am working with Age UK to try and see if we could hold a luncheon in our new space for isolated and elderly people.

"This is not just our church, we want it to be used by different members of the community.

"We are in the centre of the city so more people should use it."

The £1.5m renovation project all began with the need to raise funds for a new floor in the John Wesley Memorial Hall.

Mr Rawson added: "It just spiralled from there and that is how we have ended up where we are today.

"So far we have raised about £950,000, and it has been a pretty even split between grant funding, funding from the Methodist Church and funding from our members."

Phase one of the project was completed two years ago when a stair lift was installed and phase two included the major extension to the main hall, new kitchen and upper meeting rooms and was finished in August 2016.

Phase three, the refurbishment of the John Wesley Room and kitchen was completed in December 2016.

But there is one piece of the redevelopment puzzle left to finish and the church needs to raise £75,000 to complete it.

The final phase will see a glass atrium run alongside the John Wesley Room and main hall.

It will be a new entrance for the church and also a meeting and primary display place.

For more information or to donate visit: localgiving.org/charity/wesleymemorialchurch/