A landmark Grade I listed church is set to hold its first service this weekend following a £144,000 refurbishment.

St Mary’s church, in Overton Drive, Wanstead has been closed since August for the work.

Improvements included completely repainting the interior, resetting loose pavestones in the floor and replacing all the 1970s lighting with digitally controlled LCDs.

The money was raised for the renovation of the Georgian building through donations and fundraising.

Improvements to the stained glass windows, which will cost a further £7,000 are also being planned for the near future.

The only Grade I listed building in Redbridge, was built in 1790 and had not been decorated since 1990.

Churchwarden for over 40 years, Peter Brown, said the renovation was needed.

He said: “It needed to be done because it is our duty to maintain this important building and I am sure it will be used much more as a result.

“It is in a much better condition visually so we are hoping more people come forward to have their weddings and concerts here, I think with paint peeling off before people were put off.

“There was old damp damage but now it looks fantastic, I am so excited to show everyone on Sunday  for the first service.

“We had special conservation builders to do the work and they knew what they were doing, it was a great job because due to the Grade I listing we could not make any changes to the building whatsoever.”

The celebration service at 11am on Sunday will involve a champagne reception.