In 2014 it was announced that a parishioner had bequeathed $400,000, which has helped fund the renovation project.

Since then, the church planned work and submitted planning applications before work finally began last year. 

While the church is hesitate on putting a completion date on work, it is expected to finished in the coming few months.

Since work has begun, the church's pews have been reconfigured and the pulpit has changed location, work has begun on a building to connect the main church building to the hall and to provide a new main entrance on Howick Street.

Bathurst Presbyterian Church pastor Tristan Merkel said the changes will help provide a more friendlier building.

“The interior revitalisation will make the building more friendlier, more functional and be a more welcoming space to invite our community,” he said.

“The new layout achieves this by reducing the sense of ceremony and ritual and in turn elevating the relational feel of the space.

“There is much more room to move, see and mix with each other.”

Since work began last year, the church’s organ has been removed but will remain in Bathurst after commitment from the Cathedral of St Michael and St John to restore it.

The new building between the church and the hall will be a new meeting place, mainly for children activities.

It is yet to be finished but when it is, the new building's cladding will blend in with the historic look of the church building and hall. 

Work on the new main entrance on Howick Street is still to be finished but it will provide a more welcoming entrance when finished according to Pr Merkel. 

“It will enable us to use the space more flexibly and welcome people into our building,” he said. 

“We’re enthusiastic about having a more functional and welcoming building so that as many people as possible can hear about and follow Jesus Christ.” 

Built in 1872, on the corner of George and Howick Streets, the church was previously named St Stephen's Presbyterian Church.