WORK is beginning on improvements to a village church, after more than £100,000 was raised by the community.

All Saints Church in Upper Clatford is being surrounded by scaffolding to allow for roof renovations to commence.

It comes after the community rallied round to fund the project after an inspection identified the need to totally re-tile the church roof.

The pandemic slowed progress on the project, but fund raising started in earnest in late summer 2021, with a target of £160,000.

Funds raised to date amount to £100,000, with another £10,000 secured.

Posting to a community Facebook group on Wednesday (February 16), the project team - tasked with researching and fundraising for the work - wrote: “All Saints Church roof refurb is about to commence.

“You’ll see our church surrounded in scaffolding very shortly.”

SEE ALSO: US film producer visits Upper Clatford ahead of showing of film about Mayflower pilgrim Stephen Hopkins

They continued: “A huge thanks to everyone who has contributed towards the fund which has reached £100k to date. There have been all sorts of events and initiatives to help fund this including a flower festival, the winter lectures, jazz in the garden, to name but a few.

“Also a special thanks goes out to our generous North American friends for their kind donations, supporting us in the name of their own Mayflower ancestor Stephen Hopkins who was born and baptised in Upper Clatford.”

For more information about the various phases of the project so far, visit: https://www.upperclatford.com/community/upper-clatford-15048/all-saints-roof-restoration-project/.

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