SUPPORTERS of St Mary's Church Sampford Spiney are pulling out all the stops to raise money for much needed work. 

Having raised more than £30,000 in the 12 months up to September, the community and church friends have begun a new series of events to find funds for its electrical/heating system and begin repairs on the tower to prevent water ingress.

Last month an intrepid team walked to the seven churches in the West Dartmoor Benefice — Princetown, Sampford Spiney, Horrabridge; Yelverton, Meavy, Sheepstor and Walkhampton — as part of the Devon Historic Churches Day. 

Simon Hill and David Tyrrell, accompanied by two of the donors, Peter Walde and Tony John, raised more than £1,000, which has been split between church funds and the Devon Historic Churches Trust. 

In the evening of October 8 the community filled the church for its annual harvest supper and auction.  Organised by Mike Doidge, who also auctioned more than 100 lots, the evening raised more than £2,400.  The harvest loaf was auctioned three times, raising £710 on its own!

The next event in the church is a lecture by the well known historian, Dr Geri Parlby,  on 'The Parlbys of Sampford Spiney: Lords, Priests, Feminists, Football Managers, Artists'.     It begins at 7.30pm on October 31 and there will be a cash bar on the night. Tickets are £5 from members of the parochial church council or you can pay on the door.

Because of all the generous support given by the community and its friends, the parochial church council is to start remedial work in the next month or so.  The electrical/heating system will be replaced in November by Keith Hopper Electrical. 

Work on the tower will begin with repairs to the roof and parapets over the same period. In the new year it is planned that the top of the tower will be shrouded in scaffolding while the four crocketed pinnacles are repaired.  This work will be undertaken by West Access, who specialise in rope access and conservation for church towers and buildings. 

As funds become available the parochial church council will continue with the process of cleaning and re-pointing the rest of the tower.