Now the target is £30,000

Cricklade's St Mary's Church at the north end of the High Street is one of many ancient buildings to be found in the town and the place of worship for the Catholic community

A non-denominational association called the Friend's of St Mary's has spent five years raising money so they can restore the church to its former glory.

So, far the group has raised around £70,000 £20,000 of which came from grants and donations and the rest through fundraising events such as fetes, coffee mornings and book sales.

This has paid for the installation of central heating, replaced metal railings removed for the war effort in the Second World War grills for the stain glass windows and restoration of the clock.

Their next target is to raise £30,000 to restore the Norman chapel on the north side of the church and re-lead the bell tower.

Gerry Dudley, the group's secretary, said: "It is one of the oldest pre-reformation churches to be handed back to the Catholic Church.

"There was a lot in the press when that happened 16 years ago. We even made headlines in newspapers in South America, they had heard about it from various Catholic publications.

"It is a historic building that adds to the ethos of the town and the other architectural niceties found here.

"It would be an absolute shame if we let it go into disrepair."

The building was redundant for 25 years prior to being leased to the Catholic Church at peppercorn rent and is now home to between 80 and 100 worshipers.

It owes its current appearance to extensive restoration in 1862. But there have been three churches on the site. The first was a Saxon chapel built around 1008 or earlier, the second was a Norman chapel and finally it was rebuilt in the mid-13th century.

The friends are holding a second hand book sale tomorrow at the church from 10am to noon, and on June 21 the group is holding a fete at Brook House in the High Street.

For more information call Gerry on Swindon 750107.