A WEEKEND of nostalgia raised £2,228 for a roof appeal for the ancient village church in Chiddingfold.

With work due to start on replacing all the roofs on the grade one listed medieval church of St Mary’s Church in August, the weekend of fundraising included a display of 14 wedding dressed loaned by residents, including one of more than 100 years old which was still in good condition.

Old village photographs also added to the nostalgia of the occasion and displayed in the church room, where refreshments were served all day.

The weekend also included a showing of the film The Years Between, starring Michael Redgrave and Valerie Hobson, which was filmed on location in Chiddingfold, in 1945.

Shown in the village hall to a large and appreciative audience, residents enjoyed spotting the locations they knew, among them the actual bonfire celebrations for VJ Day.

The weekend concluded with a well-attended ‘Songs of Praise’ compered by Tony Douglass and led by Roger Crocker, organist of St Mary’s, supported by the church choir.

Among favourite hymns chosen by villagers and sung with gusto was ‘Jerusalem’ the choice of HMS Chiddingfold, the ship named after the village and the most popular hymn in Chiddingfold, ‘Guide me O thou Great Redeemer’ sung to the traditional Cwm Rhondda.

A sum of £25,000 is still needed to complete the roofing work and donations can be sent via www.give.net.