Village gives thanks for new church spire (From Oxford Mail)

Village gives thanks for new church spire

5:10pm Friday 12th October 2007 in News

Scores of people attended a special service to give thanks for their new church spire.

About 120 congregation members, fundraisers and community representatives gathered at St Mary's Church in Kidlington to celebrate raising £250,000.

The church hit its fundraising target in less than two years after the appeal was launched by Oxfordshire resident and BBC Newsnight and University Challenge presenter Jeremy Paxman.

Work to rebuild the 171ft spire was completed earlier this year.

And after the thanksgiving service, the congregation threw a party to celebrate reaching their goal.

Rector, the Rev Anthony Ellis said: "We had a very short service giving thanks with a couple of hymns and the choir sang a very special anthem of thanksgiving. Then we had a party. It was a lovely way to say 'thank you'."

Mr Ellis added: "The people that have really impressed are the local people of Kidlington and the way they just rallied around."

But he added that fundraising was not over for the 800-year-old church - work still needs to be done on the nave roof and interior woodwork, estimated at another £200,000 over the next 10 years.