A SOUTHAMPTON church has thrown open its doors again after an extensive refurb. 

Holy Saviour Church in the Bitterne area of Southampton has hosted an open day showcasing their new extension to the local community. 

New facilities at the place of worship in Bursledon Road include a café, large multi-use hall and meeting rooms. 

New wheelchair-accessible features such as lifts have been introduced to make the site more inclusive for people with disabilities. 

The church has also launched initiatives to encourage people from the community to form connections in light of the pandemic and tackle social isolation and loneliness across generations. 

The project was funded in part by Bitterne man John Shepard - who passed away in 2018 - and other members of the congregation

The church vicar, Reverend Tony Palmer, said: "How incredible it is to get to this point, to be able to see this new space open right at the heart of Bitterne, all thanks to the legacy of one of our dear congregation members. We at Holy Saviour hope to be a beacon of hope for the local community, providing much-needed community space and resources to Bitterne and beyond."

Attending the recent reopening was MP for Southampton Itchen, Royston Smith and the city mayor, Alex Houghton.

Mr Smith said: “It is great to see a church at the centre of our community reopen its doors. The new hall is the perfect space for people across Bitterne and Southampton to use and connect with each other. This redevelopment is a testament to the generosity of the people of Southampton and I would like to thank John Shepard and his family for making this happen.”