Hankerton unveils revamped church (From This Is Wiltshire)

Hankerton unveils revamped church

2:53pm Thursday 18th March 2010 in

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Villagers in Hankerton are set to unveil their revamped 12th-century church building after £50,000 was spent to provide new facilities.

Volunteers have spent 18 months raising money and applying for planning permission to have Holy Cross Hankerton church kitted out with toilet facilities, a kitchenette and a new boiler which will allow more activities to be held there.

On March 22 the official opening will take place at 7pm.

Committee member Claudine Pynn, who has helped co-ordinate the North Aisle Development Project, said it had been a genuine community effort.

She said: “The church is the only public building in the village. Eighteen months ago we decided we would like some toilet facilities there.

“So we opened up an old medieval door in the north aisle and secured planning permission to build an extension.

“We’ve cleared the north aisle of pews and put carpet down so that’s now a space that can be used by groups throughout the week.”

While the refurbishment was taking place two tombs, one from the 14th century and another from the 17th, were discovered under the north aisle.

Mrs Pynn said: “No one had a clue who they were, although one of them was probably quite wealthy because the tomb was made of lead.”

Villagers collected around £50,000 from fundraising events and grants.