A VAST metal frame is beginning to envelope one of Swindon's familiar landmarks.

Over the next few weeks the spire of Christ Church on Cricklade Street in Old Town will become shrouded in a complex scaffolding frame so that vital repair work on the 150-year-old church can be carried out.

The £370,000 project is being undertaken by Ellis and Co, of Shepton Mallet, Somerset which will be repairing the stonework of the spire.

Pollution and exposure to the elements have taken their toll.

The Rev Simon Stevenette, the vicar of Christ Church, said: "The building has helped many over the years.

"Now it's time for the many to help the building not to create a museum, but to secure and expand the base of our support."

The money has been raised by the church's Skyline Appeal, launched in November 2001.

It has raised thousands of pounds through events including a collection when Radio 4's Any Questions came to the church in 2003, sponsored walks along the Ridgeway, and from sales of a CD of music entitled Skyline Sounds, which includes a recording of the bells.

Unfortunately the work will force the bells to be silent while it takes place.

There are concerns that the bells could be damaged by the inflow of water from the roof.

The bells are reckoned to be some of the finest in the country for their weight one weighing in at just over a tonne.

The louvres in the eight sound openings to the spire's belfry are unsafe and have been covered in green netting for more than two years.

Christ Church was designed by architect George Gilbert Scott and is a Grade Two listed building.

The money to build the church in the first place came from public subscription and it is hoped that the public, as well as the congregation, will continue to contribute to the repairs, as well as using the church.

The scaffolding started going up on April 11 and is due to take around six weeks to erect.

After that the contractors will move in to begin the repair work, a job which is expected to take a further six months.

Anthony Osborne