FOUR years ago wardens at a Kidlington church had to bring in buckets because rain was leaking through the roof.

Now the congregation at St John’s in Broadway can worship in the dry after a £45,000 renovation project was completed last month.

Church warden Margaret Day, who has lived in Kidlington for 25 years, said it was “depressing”

when water started leaking through the roof in 2010.

It prompted her to spearhead a fundraising team and, last week, Miss Day put on a celebratory concert at the church featuring a Welsh male voice choir and professional soloist Hannah Nye.

So far £40,000 of the £45,000 has been raised by the team and the concert, which brought in £270, was the latest attempt to reach the target through a series of loans, grants and fundraising events.

The renovation has included an extension, a new kitchen, meeting room, toilets, heating and a widened entrance for increased wheelchair access.

Miss Day, 66, who joined St John’s in 2010, added: “Four years ago we had a lot of problems with the roof leaking, which was damaging parts of the building, so we decided we needed to get it sorted.

“So we repaired the roof and then we started looking up how we could repair the damage caused by the leaks that came through the roof.

“The water came through the ceiling, especially parts of the kitchen, toilets and the meeting room, and we had buckets to collect the drips.

“It was depressing because we could not use the kitchen – it was not safe. We now hope many people will be able to use the facilities for years to come. The future is bright.”

In 2012 St John’s vicar the Rev Hilary Campbell walked more than 25 miles in aid of the renovation.

Margaret Lang, a member of the fundraising team, said she has been overwhelmed by support for the project.

Mrs Lang, a grandmother of 11 who has lived in Kidlington for 41 years, said: “I remember bringing buckets and it was dreadful.

“But the extension is absolutely wonderful because so much hard work has paid off and the support was overwhelming.”

Fellow member of the fundraising team, Malcolm Austin, 77, a grandfather-of-four, said: “I organised coffee mornings and wine and cheese evenings, and it was great fun. I am so pleased with the way it has all come together. I really hope people will use these facilities.”