BUILDERS excavating the floor of St Peter’s Church in Wrecclesham received an unpleasant surprise when removing material from around the south row of pillars – there were virtually no foundations.

The pillars had been built mainly on rubble which was beginning to break down and which now had nothing around to support them.

Work was delayed while the area was examined and the remedy planned. Then concrete was carefully laid, one side at a time, until the area beneath the pillars was encased in the strongest possible concrete box.

At the same time a survey of the west wall, a large part of which is due to be removed to make way for new glass double-doors, revealed a lack of depth of foundation in the boiler basement void leading to cracking of walls either side.

This too was carefully and solidly underpinned. Fortunately no other hitches have so far come up and the work is more or less back on track.

The attractive Victorian church is undergoing a much-needed restoration and re-ordering. The new limestone-tiled floor will conceal under-floor heating, the pews will be replaced by chairs and there will be new lighting and audiovisual systems.

In addition, an external platform lift and the levelling of entrance paths will render the church and Leverton Hall easily accessible to all.

As the vicar, Rev Canon Anne Gell, wrote in the project brochure: “We pray that for many years to come people from this community will gather in St Peter’s to celebrate, to mourn and to pray.

“In order for this to be so, we need to adapt and update the building, in particular the heating, lighting and audio-visual provision, while retaining the timeless beauty of this very lovely and much-loved church.”

The church is still short of funding to complete the project although significant sums have already been raised both in the local community and outside.

To make a donation visit the church website at www.cofewrecclesham.org.uk where the various means of donating are detailed or contact the parish administrator, Sue Davies on 01252 793888 or alternatively at [email protected].