THIS building used to be filled with the Holy Spirit - within months it could be serving spirits of a very different kind.

The former church, in the heart of York city centre, is set to be transformed into a bar-restaurant, serving a wide range of fine wines and draught beers.

Where once the only tipple was a cup of communion wine, there could soon be dozens of vintages, served by the glass or the bottle.

Planning permission has been granted, and a drinks licence application submitted, for the Elim Pentecostal Church, in Swinegate.

If the application goes ahead, the church could house two bars and a restaurant in time for Christmas, and could serve alcohol between 10am and 11pm.

The Pentecostal congregation, which still owns the building, moved out in January 2004, and into St Lawrence's Primary School, in Heslington Road, York, for Sunday meetings.

The church will now be let to Andrew Dunn, who already runs nearby Oscars Wine Bar.

The Rev Graham Hutchinson, pastor of the church, said: "The building will become a source of revenue to help the work of the church.

"We always knew a drinks licence was being considered, but we generally don't get uptight about alcohol and that sort of thing.

"The church is about people, not buildings. If we are God's flock, that building is just a sheep shed. Since we moved the church has been going from strength to strength."

Mr Dunn said: "This will be a very individual bar and restaurant, serving good quality local food, not some sort of flashy high street concept.

"We are looking to create an upmarket family bar and bistro on the ground floor, and another bar upstairs. It certainly isn't going to be a rowdy club.

"As time moves on, buildings have different purposes. There are some churches that I wouldn't want to put a bar in - those with graves in, for example - but I don't see selling alcohol in Swinegate as a problem."

The church is 4,800sq ft at ground level, and has a 1,540sq ft gallery upstairs. It was built as a Methodist chapel in 1910, became a convalescence hospital during the First World War, and was later partly used as a billiard hall.

A formal ceremony is required to deconsecrate the building.

York Civic Trust chairman Darrell Buttery welcomed the scheme.

He said: "I approve of this very sensible plan.

"I can think of much worse things that have happened in churches through the ages, and I see no harm in alcohol being served there now."

Updated: 10:10 Monday, August 29, 2005