An ill wind in Devizes is a real godsend (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

An ill wind in Devizes is a real godsend

7:00am Saturday 4th June 2011 in News By Lewis Cowen

The congregation of St Andrew’s Church in Devizes, severely damaged by gales four years ago, has been celebrating its £280,000 refurbishment.

The Methodist and United Reformed church lost its massive stained glass front window during the gales of January 2007.

The disaster led the congregation to completely renovate the Victorian building.

Church secretary Beryl Hill said: “We felt that God must have been telling us something. When we had the window rebuilt we couldn’t see it properly because of the false ceiling that had been put in in 1969.”

The church council put together a plan to open up the church. The pews were taken out and so was the false ceiling, the organ was replaced and a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system installed.

The roof was insulated and a new heating system installed.

The total cost of the Star Project was £280,000, some of it from grants but most of it by a handsome legacy and contributions from members of the congregation.

Most of the planning of the refurbishment was done by church treasurer Ruth McGregor. She said: “We wanted the church to be used for community events and the new electronics will enable us to do that. The first community event is the Devizes Afternoon Choir which will start rehearsing this Friday.”

The church was full to capacity on Saturday for a celebration and rededication ceremony at which a former minister, the Rev Darcey Gritzmacher, returned from America to attend.

The new folding glass doors had to be opened so the foyer could accommodate more people and the gallery was full.

Dozens of people from all over the area took advantage of an open day on Monday to view the changes wrought by the renovation work, which was carried out by local builders Gaiger Brothers and designed by architect Peter Kent from Potterne.

And it is not just the church that has benefited from the fundraising for Star. Ten per cent of the money raised from local donations is being spent on two new bungalows for the community of Kibera, near Nairobi in Kenya, to assist local women to set up businesses.

* A celebration of 400 years of the King James Bible is at St Andrew’s Church, Long Street, on June 11 from 10am. All 66 books of the Bible will be represented using embroidery, applique, collage and silk painting.