Margaret Court has been given the go-ahead to build a five-storey tower in industrial Osborne Park, but unlike the one built on the banks of the Swan by her brother-in-law 18 years ago, this one has nothing to do with ropes and clanging bells.

On Tuesday night, the City of Stirling approved a so-called “prayer tower” on Neil Street as part of a redeveloped Victory Life Church, an organisation started by “Pastor Marg” back in 1995 and now boasting thousands of members across WA.

This tower will be open 24 hours, seven days a week and allow access to anyone seeking some quiet reflection “in the busy world in which we live right around the clock”, she said.

So what is it with Courts and towers?

“I never thought of it like that before,” said Australia’s greatest tennis player, who stopped belting a ball two years ago after a shoulder injury but still happily coaches a few of her nine grandchildren.

Although the other Court’s tower is much higher (82.7m), more expensive ($5.5 million to build) and considered one of the world’s biggest musical instruments due to the 12 bells of St Martin-in-the-Fields it houses, Mrs Court believes the prayer tower will bring new life to the gritty suburb.

Having overcome a parking issue hiccup with the help of supporting nearby businesses and resubmitted plans, it’s now full-steam ahead.

Building of the glass-facade building will begin in the new year.

Mrs Court told The Sunday Times that more than $600,000 had been raised for the tower so far.

It will be the first part of a major redevelopment of the church’s main administration block that also houses the Bible school, a 750-seat auditorium — regularly filled during any one of their three Sunday services — and various ministries.

Camera Icon An architectural illustration of the prayer tower and extended auditorium at the Victory Life Church in Osborne Park. Credit: Supplied

The other church buildings across and down Neil Street cover a range of services for the elderly, men’s groups, the disabled, the homeless and the poor.

They include kitchens where meals are made and distributed, from Forrestfield to Kwinana, by up to 80 volunteers.

So burgeoning is business that golf carts ferry elderly members and young mothers and children between the Glendalough train station and the church on Sundays.

“Our community is strong and it is growing,” Mrs Court said. “We have wonderful and supportive businesses around us which has been very helpful.

“We now have around 2500 members. Bunbury, Albany, Vic Park, they are everywhere, and our numbers are growing.

“I still remember starting here more than 21 years ago.

“Barry and I were scrubbing the floors of this huge place, we didn’t have any carpet, no air-con, no disabled toilets, we needed a lift to get up to the second floor because we had no wheelchair access.

“I remember this wonderful lady came in and said she wanted to donate something, saying the Lord had come to her that night.

“As I was chatting to her and walking her to the door, I opened the cheque and it was for $237,000. I remember just bursting into tears.”