THE church of St Pancras, Pancrasweek, recently received a generous National Lottery grant of £248,000 for the restoration of the roof project, and the associated work.

Thanks to the money raised by National Lottery players, the project’s aims were to extend the life of the outstanding Grade II building for generations to come.

The church is situated on the hill and is clearly visible from the A3072 Bude to Holsworthy road where it proudly stands overlooking the River Tamar and east Cornwall.

It dates in part from the 12th century, with later additions, has a 12th century granite font and some relics of 15th century pew ends; there is also a peal of five bells.

It has served the rural community as a focal point since the 13th century, and was last re-roofed in 1900, with funding from the Wickett family, formerly of Pancrasweek, who had emigrated to Canada, and made their fortune from oil discovery.

The current work will ensure the continuation of St Pancras for many years to come, and the people of the parish have expressed their gratitude to the National Lottery players for enabling this project to go ahead.

The building was closed for nine months while the restoration work was carried out by local renowned builders Roger Andrews Ltd, under the management of Barry Vanstone and architect Jeremy Chadburn of Chadburn Conservation Architect, Launceston.

The new slate roof and battens, leadwork and new guttering, rainwater drainage and soakaways, will ensure that the building will be safe and dry for the next one hundred years or more; in addition, new heating, a small kitchen, refurbished wood block flooring and new redecorations will make the church more user-friendly.

The inscription above the altar, and stencils on the walls around the altar have also been painstakingly re-painted in the original gold and green by a local artist.

In conjunction with this, a children’s church trail has been established, to encourage families to spend time looking at the detail of the building.

To mark the completion of work, a rededication service and harvest service will take place on Friday evening, September 27, at 7pm. The Venerable Dr Mark Butchers and priest-in-charge of the Holsworthy benefice Mother Elizabeth Burke will preside.

Donations of non-perishable food items and the evening’s offertory will be for the Holsworthy Food Bank. A harvest buffet will be provided after the service.