LAST weekend was a very special day for St Andrew’s Church in Chippenham, as the old church hall was reopened after two years of refurbishment.

It has been undergoing extensive refurbishment over the past two years, and was re-dedicated by the Bishop of Bristol, the Right Rev Vivienne Faull, and re-named the King Alfred Hall.

There was an exhibition in the hall of arts and crafts featuring embroidery, pottery, glasswork, woodwork, paintings and photography.

Bishop Viv led the Sunday morning Eucharist and commented that it was good that so many people had remembered to put their clocks forward to arrive on time, but a shame that mothers on Mothering Sunday had to make do with one hour’s less sleep.

After the service, the Bishop ceremonially cut the ribbon to declare the refurbished church hall open for business, and William Wyldbore-Smith, the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, then led a toast to King Alfred in the crowded hall.