Maurice Etienne, head sacristan at St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, which has just been refurbished. Picture: JON GUEGAN (00849377)

ST PATRICK’S Church will reopen next week after the completion of a stunning £150,000 renovation project.

The St Clement church, which is close to the FB Fields, has been closed since 15 August.

A special concert is being held on Tuesday to mark the reopening and to give parishioners a chance to see the building in all its new-found glory.

Maurice Etienne, who has been worshipping at the church continuously since 1943 and is the unofficial caretaker at the site, said that the building had been transformed.

The improvements mean that the rather dark church has been transformed into a very bright, newly carpeted, freshly decorated and structurally-sound building.

Tuesday’s concert will also be a chance to boost the appeal fund. Entry will be free, but a collection will be taken on the way out.

Mr Etienne said that 50 people had volunteered to play at the event, which starts at 7.30 pm.

There will be choirs from across the Island as well as recitals by a range of musicians, including Cally Noel, who plays traditional and period instruments.

More information is available by calling Mr Etienne on 07797 714161.