In 2015, the Church began a 7 year program to undertake a complete restoration of the building and to leave a living legacy for the community and for those that would be using the church in years to come. This was necessary as the church required urgent repairs to the roof and to the entire structure of the building following many years of delayed work due to lack of finances. The Parochial Church Council decided to appoint a Management team of volunteers which included the two Churchwardens, the Priest and one paid project coordinator, Hannah Vernon. Between them they began a search for funds which started with the community itself, and many varied fundraising activities followed. Applications to charities were also made in order to raise the finances and were successful but much more was needed. The team then approached the National Lottery Fund and were granted development monies to undertake professional assistance in preparing a major funding bid and in 2020, were given the go ahead to start work.
There followed a year and half of major restoration work during which time the church needed to be closed and Sunday services were held in the village hall. Just before Christmas 2022 the church was reopened by our Bishop Richard and the transformation into a bright and welcoming space was complete. At this time it was decided to name the activities ‘A familiar Treasure’ after a poem by a local villager, extolling to beauty of our church, which is indeed a familiar treasure in our midst.
Work continued after the completion of the capital project in order to leave a living legacy for the community. These have been many and varied, from learning traditional building skills, events for youngsters involving woodwork, plays, percussion, and pottery to a vibrant history group researching local history that changed the legal system of our country. As the project comes to a close after some seven years, all those involved can look back on a remarkable period when the familiar treasure can again take its place at the centre of village life, and that it will leave a legacy of work carrying on for years to come.
