A CONONLEY church is poised to have some minor building works carried out in the hope a larger project will materialise from it.

Church vicar, the Rev John Peet, has submitted a planning application to Craven District Council requesting permission to replace a 2.02 metre organ blower at Cononley United Church, in Netherghyll Lane, with one of similar size and to build a proposed 2.85 metre garden store to house the machine.

"The organ blower is an electrical machine to blow air through the pipes," said Mr Peet, who added that the lean-to building would be a minor alteration made to the outside of the church building.

"This is only a very small part of what we want to do," said Mr Peet. "We're hoping to have a total re-fit of the church."

He said the "total revamp of the church interior" scheme would cost approximately £160,000, and permission for the project has to come from church authorities.

Mr Peet added the project would involve creating kitchen and toilet facilities, in addition to doing work on the balcony to assure that no seating is lost. It is also likely the Victorian pews would be removed in favour of chairs.

He said the revamp would make the church more "flexible" on a Sunday morning.

A substantial amount of money for the project would be paid for out of the proceeds from the sale of the former Methodist church in the village.