THANKS to lottery funding and other fundraising efforts, St Swithin’s Church, Launcells, is hoping to improve its kitchen and WC facilities, whilst also restoring the church tower’s second floor - for its resident bell ringers.

Parochial Church Council secretary Margaret Bond said the new facilities will enable the church to improve the standard of their already successful events.

She said: “We as a church are keen on holding events. We have a craft fayre in September and have just held a Christmas one, a flower festival in July and hold two to three concerts a year in addition to our usual church services.

“However, for the past 20 years or so we have only had a composting toilet for members and the public to use, which isn’t the most hygienic thing and is a bit past its sell-by date.

“The cottages by the church have just got mains water so we will tap into that and have a WC with hot and cold water — with the water running into the tower.”

Up until now the church has been serving refreshments using a pop-up kitchen in the tower. But thanks to the lottery funding, they will be looking to install units that can be used to provide a wider array of hot meals.

Margaret said: “With the funding we have the facilities to get a proper kitchen into the tower. We have plans for proper units like a cooker, fridge and dishwasher, with tiling etc. to be installed.

“This will mean we are able to give parishioners a decent meal cooked on the premises instead of just bringing food in to heat up.”

There are also plans to restore the bell ringers to the second floor, where they originally would have played. Margaret said: “We have bell ringers, who use that space currently. They want to have a ringing floor but with the kitchen being installed we decided a new ringing floor should be built on the second floor. Up until the early 20th century that is where they used to ring anyway, so it will be like we are returning them to their ‘original’ space.”

The church has also been fortunate to receive extra funding from the East Langford Solar Farm, which has given £6,000 towards the church’s project. Parishioners, friends and supporters of the church have also raised £3,000. St Swithin’s requires £35,000 to complete the project, and with the architect plans having already been approved, they are well on their way to realising their goal.