A former church that has stood on Bushey High Street since the 1800s has been given a new lease of life after being taken over by a stage school.

The Magaret Howard Organisation, which runs a performing arts college and evening classes, has bought the former United Reformed Church (URC) and officially moved in to the iconic building on Monday.

One former member of the church congregation says he is delighted that the historic building is being used for the first time since the URC left it in April 2010.

Peter McNulty, the former joint church secretary, said: “The dance school has done a marvellous job there. They have tastefully re-done it so it looks good, alive and breathing. It sounds a bit romantic but it is important - you don’t want to see it fall into disrepair.”

The building, which was first built as a congregational chapel in the 1890s, was taken over by the URC in the 1980s but has stood empty for nearly nine months.

Features of the former church including stained glass windows and plaques have remained untouched by the stage school, which previously operated from the Bushey Golf and Country Club.

Linda Bram, of the school, said: “It is absolutely fantastic. We haven’t changed anything, only redecorated areas that needed it.”