A PROJECT to transform Okehampton?s historic All Saints Church is to be launched next month ? and church leaders are hoping the community will throw its weight behind the fundraising appeal. The scheme will create a more flexible area within the church to allow greater variety of usage ? it will also mean some of the building?s striking architectural features will be revealed for the first time in years. The Rev Stephen Cook, vicar of Okehampton, said: ??The end result is that the church will look absolutely stunning. ?It will look even more beautiful and we are hoping that people, even those who don?t normally go to church, might like to help us with our appeal. ?At the moment, the front of the church is very crowded and there are all sorts of levels. ?We want to remove a couple of rows of pews and replace one with a row of chairs, which will make the area much more flexible. ?We also want to buy some moveable staging, so when we have events involving children, they can be seen clearly.? Mr Cook said the church carpet was ?rather old and shabby? ? sections of this too were due to be removed. ?We want to remove it between the choir stalls ? there are some absolutely beautiful Victorian tiles underneath it.? Mr Cook said some of the church?s original stonework would also be revealed. The rest of the carpet will be replaced, so it is the same throughout the church. New boilers have already been installed. Mr Cook said there had been a building on the site of All Saints Church since Anglo Saxon times, when the town had originally been situated at its hilltop setting. The present building dates from the 1840s, when it was rebuilt after a fire in 1843, although the tower is medieval. Mr Cook said: ?It?s a stunning building in a beautiful setting, it?s lovely, but it?s starting to look a bit shabby.? Mr Cook said the entire refurbishment project was going to cost around £15,000. Fundraising had got off to ?a flying start? thanks to the hard work of the Friends of All Saints ? but such a major investment would require considerable help from the community. A variety of fundraising events are being organised to boost the appeal, beginning with a quiz night on January 28, which will be held in the church hall. Any members of the community, businesses or individuals who would like to help the All Saints refurbishment project should contact Stephen Cook on 01837 659297.
