ST RAPHAEL'S Church at Huccaby, Dartmoor, has been granted planning permission to rebuild its vestry in an attempt to improve availability for the public.

St Raphael's is a church of distinction, being the only Anglican chapel throughout the county dedicated to St Raphael, the patron saint of travellers and one of the seven archangels who stood before the throne of God.

The church was originally built in 1869 by Reverend Morris Fuller as a mission chapel and was used during the week as a school with its desks still doubling today as pews for Sunday Mass.

The church now provides many services for its community, having held Victorian school experience days and housing concerts while still functioning as a place of worship and healing.

The build will include a kitchen, changing area and disabled toilet which will enable use for community purposes.

Efforts will be made for the new additions to be in-keeping and without changes to the existing chapel itself, being a location of both worship and pilgrimage. The new facilities are required to provide more events such as a base for guided walk and poetry groups whilst improving the Victorian school experience events which the site already provides.

Any donations toward the work would be gratefully received by churchwarden Val Andrews. For more information call 01364 631313.