A popular West Kensington church is urging parishioners to back a proposal to expand its buildings to make room for more community activities.

Father Martin Eastwood of St Andrew's Fulham Fields, in St Andrew's Road, says the church needs to be bigger to continue to offer the raft of community events currently on offer.

The church already runs a Mums' and Toddlers' Group, a fruit and vegetable co-operation, a lunch club and a homelessness project feeding and clothing 70 people each Saturday.

But Fr Martin says the church facilities could be upgraded by returning the church to its original size, allowing more people to use the church.

A planning application has been submitted to Hammersmith and Fulham Council which would allow the church to develop a small number of residential buildings which could be sold to pay for necessary works to the main church and three new community halls, a cafe, new toilets and a church office.

"This is not a project to raise money for the church but to provide facilities for all the people who come through the building on a regular basis whether they come looking for a conversation with God, a cup of tea or a friendly welcome," he said.

"By returning the church to its original proportions we can develop a small residential site at the west end of the church which will finance the project. The facilities within the church can no longer support our community activities and we have an opportunity which may never arise again to redevelop to secure the long term future of the building."

Fr Martin is asking locals to write to the council or contact him in support of the St Andrew's proposal.

See www.standrewsfulham.com