The medieval St Michael and All Angels Church in Urchfont could be on the verge of a new life as a community hub after the parochial church council held an open day to canvass local people for their ideas.

There is support for a café, exhibition space, disabled access and more user-friendly toilets and kitchen.

Those attending were asked their opinion on whether the church could be the venue for cookery classes for young parents, wellbeing clinics, computer training and youth activities.

The committee, chaired by former police chief superintendent Ian Maidment, has looked at four other churches, including St James’s in Devizes and Malmesbury Abbey, which, among other activities, holds an annual skateboard festival.

The Rev William Lang, team rector for the Redhorn and Cannings group of churches, said: “We would not necessarily go down that route, but the church needs to change to meet the needs of the community.

“When I first arrived we had a problem in finding a date for the harvest festival as the village hall is so heavily booked up. To have an event like that in the nave would be ideal.

“The last thing we want is to be in competition with the village hall but it is clear that people would welcome another community space.

“This is going back to the origins of the church. In medieval times the church was at the heart of the community.

“The chancel would be where all the holy things took place but the rest of the church was free for a wide variety of uses.”

To make any changes at least some of the church pews would have to be taken out and all of them could disappear if Urchfont chose to go down the same route as St James in Devizes.

Mr Lang said: “This is about creating a community resource and encouraging more people to come through that rather forbidding big wooden door. It is a significant psychological barrier.

“In one of my previous churches, we replaced the front door with a glass door which encouraged people to come in who had never been in before.”