RESTORATION work has just been completed on one of Devon?s oldest churches, the 12th Century Norman church at Honeychurch, known as St Mary?s.

Honeychurch near Sampford Courtenay, is a hamlet with just 19 adults, so raising funding for the work proved a major task. It has now been completed at a total cost of £64,000.

The project began in December 1997, when the parochial church council acknowledged essential work needed to be carried out on the tower and drainage system.

The support of English Heritage and the Devon Historic Churches Trust was obtained and was vital in helping to achieve the project.

Once the external work, had been completed, phase two of the project was to raise sufficient funds to preserve a wall painting of the coat of arms of Elizabeth I, and restore a considerable amount of poor plaster. This was specialist work as the replacement material had to be similar in content and colour.

The historic church was featured in ?One Thousand Best Churches? by Simon Jenkins.

The parochial church council is grateful for the kind and generous donations of many local people, organisations and also the casual visitors.