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DELIGHTED: vicar Peter Furber, with church warden Chris Pierce, fundraising secretary Jill Budd, chairman Ted Bodsworth and Group Captain Leppard (19386401)

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FUNDRAISERS at a Malvern church have every right to be in high spirits.

They are about to celebrate the completion of a four-year £90,000 project to rebuild the spire at Christchurch, in Avenue Road.

In 2004, as a result of a routine building survey, church members discovered the spire was crooked and the top cone needed to be rebuilt.

A committee, chaired by Rosemary Davies, was set up to manage the project and fundraising started.

In early 2006 an intensive campaign, spearheaded by the late Rev Donald Aird, began to raise cash.

The Victorian church had been listed as a Grade II listed building and English Heritage provided a grant of £50,000.

The committee also applied to a number of bodies for grants and the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Alan Evans Memorial Trust, Worcestershire and Dudley Historic Churches Trust and the Historic Churches Preservation Trust all contributed.

Secretary of the fundraising committee Jill Budd said they also wrote to local schools and businesses asking for help and to households in the parish.

"Some of the schools came up trumps. Dyson Perrins, Great Malvern Primary, Malvern Parish School and Malvern St James all gave money.

"The rest came from the congregation and the local community. The community rallied round. We had some very generous gifts.

"Some people gave money in memory of loved ones and we have compiled a book of the donors.

"We could not have done it without the generosity and goodwill of the community," she said.

The church also held a number of fundraising events like fairs, tea parties and talks.

Mrs Budd added: "Donald died very sadly in August.

"The spire was up and the weather vane was on. He saw the work almost completed. It was finally finished in September. The work was completed on time and slightly under budget."

Christchurch will be holding a special service to celebrate the spire project on Sunday May 11 at 11am and Mr Aird's work will be remembered.

Current chairman of the committee Ted Dodsworth said: "It is hoped that as many people as possible will attend."

Church members are now starting on a new project to raise over £30,000 to repair the organ.

There will be a spring fair at the church on Saturday May 10 from 10am to 12 noon including an organ recital.

A talk by local historian Tony Spice on the Battle of Worcester will be held in the church hall on Saturday at 7.30pm, followed by a wine and cheese buffet.

Tickets are £10 and available from Jill Budd on 01684 566174 or Ted Dodsworth on 01684 566321.

12:43am Friday 9th May 2008

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