Bishop of Winchester leads rededication service at church (From Daily Echo)

Bishop of Winchester leads rededication service at church

2:27pm Sunday 24th February 2013 in News

THE Bishop of Winchester visited one of Hampshire's smallest villages to lead a special service.

The Rt RevTim Dakin conducted a celebration and re-dedication of East Stratton's All Saints' Church following completion of a £200,000 restoration project of the Grade 2 listed building.

On Sunday, February 17, after the morning service, the bishop joined local dignitaries and parishioners in the village hall for drinks and lunch.

The service was the culmination of three years work by residents of East and West Stratton, who raised the necessary funds.

Church warden, Chris Hilling, said: “Given that East & West Stratton number only about 70 households, this has been a truly remarkable achievement and shows what can happen when a local community throws its weight behind a project.”

An appeals committee to save the church raised over £40,000 from events within the parish, supplemented by various grants from charities, as well as English Heritage.

Lord Northbrook said: “We are indebted both to English Heritage for their generous grants, without which we could not have restored our church, and to Patrick Craze, a resident of East Stratton, for his unstinting work in securing all our grants and in managing the restoration works.”