A historic church on Foulness Island, which has a population of just 151, could soon be transformed into a family home.

Plans have been submitted to change St Mary’s Church into a five-bed home, complete with church organ, font and memorial plaques.

The Grade II listed church, built in 1848, and consecrated in 1853, is on MoD owned land and, as such, comes with built-in 24-hour security.

The decommissioned church went on the market in 2016 for £150,000 after laying empty since 2010. It was put up for auction in May with a guide price of £95,000 but was later withdrawn. The proposal for the building, situated at Churchend, has been submitted by APS Design Associates.

Director Paul Seager, said: “It will not involve any external changes to the church itself and careful consideration has been given to how the building will be converted internally.

“It is proposed to install a mezzanine deck between six of the ten arcades which in turn will provide five bedrooms, of which two are ensuite and a central gallery area. The arcading will be restored and will be visible in each bedroom.

“The ground floor will remain completely open plan, this will allow for most of the historic fabric to remain uncovered.”

Mr Seager added: “The church organ will be carefully restored and relocated in the vaulted open plan area. The font will also remain in its current location and all memorial plaques will be cleaned and retained in their current positions.

“This is an exciting opportunity not only to provide a beautiful family home, but to ensure that the existing building will be retained for the foreseeable future.”

Permission was granted in 2013 to provide accommodation on two levels of the church but this has now lapsed.

The church has a walled garden and far reaching views of the estuary. Access to the island is by bridge only, with access restricted for those who don’t live on the island. The island is a wildlife conservation area with a huge variety of birdlife and colonies of grey seals in the surrounding waters.