A CAMPAIGN has started to raise almost £700,000 to finally complete the construction of a 105-year-old church in North Oxford.

Rev Gavin Knight, of St Michael and All Angels’ Church, said its new extension to the west was part of a drive to expand its role in the community.

During its construction in 1909, the congregation decided to cut short the Lonsdale Road building’s nave and erect a temporary west wall because of a lack of funds.

After that, successive vicars did not feel that completing the Grade II listed church was necessary.

But as reported in the Oxford Mail, Rev Knight has taken up the project and has now launched a fundraising campaign to finance it.

The church itself has already put forward £190,000 and it is hoped about £310,000 can come from grant funding, leaving about £200,000 for the community to raise.

A first event was held last weekend to launch the fundraising effort and Rev Knight said Oxfordshire Historic Churches Trust had already committed an undisclosed amount and some independent donors had also expressed interest.

It is hoped a series of community events such as fetes, concerts or theatre productions could be used to reach the cash target by June next year.

Rev Knight said: “We have had a lot of interest and would like to hear from people about their ideas for fundraising.

“This is a very exciting time for the church, because it seems like it is at a new stage in its life.

“All of a sudden people seem to be connecting with it as a welcoming and open place, so for me it is great to see people participating and getting involved.”

Designs produced by Adrian James Architects were exhibited to residents in September and the scheme gained planning approval from Oxford City Council in January.

The extension – which Rev Knight has called “The Threshold” – will add toilets, a kitchen, offices, storage and meeting room. It will create new facilities to be used in addition to the church’s nearby hall, which is made from the stone of the congregation’s earlier home, St John the Baptist church.

The hall is let primarily to the community and generates income for the church.

But in planning documents submitted to the city council, the architects wrote: “The church community prefer to use the church and garden for events rather than the church hall, because they work well inside and out and because this helps to familiarise people with their local church.”

For more information, or to take part in the survey, email vicar@stmichaels-summertown.org.uk