Architects have been appointed to take charge of a project to ensure Bath Abbey is fit for the 21st century.

In the next year, designers will work with the congregation to decide whether the historic church's pews should be kept - and whether it is possible to use the city's hot springs to heat the landmark building.

Last year, the abbey published a wishlist - called a statement of need - as its leaders talked to 12 different architects about a wide-ranging series of plans for the church, whose current building can trace its history to 1499.

Now, it has appointed Bath firm Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBS) to work out options for future improvements to lighting, heating, seating and toilets.

Officials from the abbey have visited St Martin-in-the-Fields Church in London to look at work that has been carried out there, and may also draw on the experiences of cathedrals such as Salisbury and Winchester, where new seating has been installed.

FCBS will look at the renovation of the floor of the building, the provision of environmentally sensitive heating, improvements to seating, entrances and lighting, as well as investigating how to secure better storage facilities, toilets, catering facilities, choir rooms and offices.

The abbey says the first few months of the project will be spent developing options which meet the requirements detailed in the statement of need.

The pews - which are Victorian - will have to be lifted so that the church floor, which is uneven and breaking up, can be worked on.

It is also likely that the 19th century heating system will be replaced with an underfloor arrangement, which may be partly geothermal, drawing on the hot springs feeding the nearby Roman Baths.

The statement document says that the current pews and uncomfortable and inflexible.

Abbey administrator Charles Curnock said: "What seating we put back after sorting out the floor and the heating has not yet been decided.

"We will consider the options of reinstating the existing pews, providing new pews and providing cathedral-style chairs."

The abbey says it chose FCBS because of its award-winning pedigree and expertise in conservation and design in historic settings.

The firm's project leader Geoff Rich said: "We are very excited at the opportunity to assist with the Bath Abbey project. As a key building in our World Heritage city, the abbey is a place which touches our lives in profound and varied ways. We very much look forward to helping understand the current challenges and defining some potential solutions for the future."

Rector the Rev Edward Mason added: "This project represents a once in a lifetime opportunity to ensure that the abbey can fulfil its commitment to serve both city and nation through the 21st century and maintain its position as an icon of Christianity in the heart of our World Heritage city."

Abbey officials have been keeping in close touch with senior planning officers at Bath and North East Somerset Council and is likely to launch a new financial appeal to fund the work, although it has some legacy money already set aside.

The Bath Preservation Trust said it was pleased with the appointment of FCBS and its chief executive Caroline Kay has had informal discussions with Mr Curnock about the plans.

She said: "We understand that they need a building that is fit for purpose and hope they take the opportunity to talk to us in the process. I think they're intelligent and sensitive about these things."

Mrs Kay said the trust had an open mind about the removal of the pews and would look at whatever case abbey officials made.

Mr Curnock said that there would be wide consultation with local organisations and people in the next few months.