VILLAGERS in Keevil staged a celebration and thanksgiving service on Wednesday to mark the completion of £140,000 worth of redevelopment and improvements to their local 14th century church.

Bishop of Ramsbury, the Right Reverend Andrew Rumsey joined Keevil’s vicar, Rector Dr Rob Thomas and his wife Marilyn, at St Leonard’s Church in School Close for the thanksgiving service.

The church was filled to its Covid-spaced capacity for the evening thanksgiving service while others seated outside in the churchyard heard the service relayed by loudspeakers.

Bishop Andrew spoke of how the new facilities open up a new era of opportunity for the church in the community, speaking of the church as being made up of the people, living stones, not merely of bricks and mortar.

The event marked the completion of redevelopment work to the Grade 2 listed church, for which villagers and others gave donations.

Reverend Thomas said: "Although a very beautiful church, St Leonard's had no water supply, hence no toilet and no catering facilities, and being so full of pews, there was no space for meeting or moving around.

"After considering many options, and taking advice from neighbouring parishes where improvement projects had taken place, a plan was drawn up to provide a water supply, an accessible toilet in the little-used West porch, and a discreet kitchenette for coffee and tea.

"We also removed some pews and moved the font to provide a flexible space at the West end of the church."

The plans were put to the villagers in May 2018 and met with widespread support. A single brief appeal for funds was made in October that year, and within a few weeks the entire cost of £140,000 was given or pledged, enabling the project to proceed without creating any debt.

The work included restorations of the church organ, which has been completely stripped, cleaned and reassembled in time for the thanksgiving service.

Some of the money raised was spent on water and waste water pipes for the newly-installed toilet facility at the church.

George Chedburn was appointed architect, and Ellis and Co as the main contractor, and the whole project was completed within budget and on schedule except that the Covid-19 pandemic arrived just in time to prevent Wessex Water connecting the water supply.

Reverend Thomas thanked the church's neighbours, who had cooperated so willingly during the inconvenience of the construction works.

Church wardens Gill Gosling and Debbie Meatyard presented a plaque to Rodney Weaver, recording the church's thanks for his chairmanship of the building committee over the critical period of the project.

The new space is already being used by village groups including the Parish Council, and it will be used by Keevil Church of England Primary School for curriculum work as well as for worship.