Abingdon's most famous church, St Helen's, is to close for six months in September as work gets under way on the first stage of an ambitious £2m restoration programme.

The task of removing the old heating system to be replaced by new under-floor equipment costing £600,000 begins soon.

In September the church will close until March to allow major works to proceed uninterrupted. During the closure services will be held in the chapel at Abingdon School.

A new lighting and sound system will be installed and work on re-organising the layout of the interior will also get under way with pews arranged 'in the round' and a new central sanctuary in the nave. The north porch entrance will be opened and there will be improvements to the children's area, the vestry and sacristy, the archive chamber in the tower bookstall and exhibition areas. A new kitchen in the south porch is also planned.

The organ will be overhauled and the church bells rehung.

The vicar of St Helen's, the Rev Michael Goode, said: "This will be a period of upheaval for the church, but it is necessary for important work to be undertaken.

"The six-month break will be an important time for us. We will not be in a limbo and must use the time constructively to plan the way forward to prepare the church for its involvement with the wider community." More than £250,000 has been raised from parishioners alone since the church launched its £2m appeal five months ago.

Mr Goode said: "To have raised over £250,000 already is an astonishing achievement, but we must not get complacent because there is still a long way to go."