A derelict Grade II-listed church in Oldham is set to be renovated after plans to help bring it back into use were deemed acceptable.

St Luke's Church, on Queens Road, Chadderton, was built in the late 1800s and was capable of holding 500 worshippers.

However, according to planning consultants Acorn Planning, who prepared a planning document on behalf of Celestial Church of Christ, the church was closed in 2008 due to low attendance numbers and high maintenance costs.

Despite the church having been closed for 15 years, it is now set to be brought back into use due to extensive internal and external works.

The Oldham Times: St Luke's Church closed in 2008St Luke's Church closed in 2008 (Image: Google Maps)

The most significant alteration to the Gothic Revival church will be the installation of a freestanding mezzanine level over the nave of the church.

It will be erected above the entrance to the church and act as a balcony overlooking the rest of the historic building.

According to the plans, the structure will not be permanently attached to the church itself and will sit on a reversible steel frame.

The Oldham Times: A design of the mezzanine above the church's entranceA design of the mezzanine above the church's entrance (Image: Acorn Planning)

In the planning statement, Acorn Planning said the mezzanine level will provide more amenity space, in particular providing a separate children's area.

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The Oldham Times: The church could hold up to 500 worshippersThe church could hold up to 500 worshippers (Image: Acorn Planning)

Other internal works will include repairing timber fixtures and seating, cleaning the stone floors and walls and replacing the floor in the kitchen which has suffered water damage.

Externally, the bell tower will be cleaned, repointing repairs will be done on the stonework, repairs will be carried out on the doors, windows and roof and an electric gate providing access to the car park will be installed.

The plans look to restore the church and ensure its long-term conservation, supporting proposals from the government and Historic England to bring more historic buildings back into use.

The proposal was deemed acceptable on Monday, November 27.