SYDENHAM Damerel Methodist Church was packed last Saturday for a service to celebrate the completion of improvements to the church premises. The congregation of 80, including the mayor of Tavistock and ward borough councillor Robin Pike, heard the chairman of the Methodist District, the Rev John Carne preach and congratulate them on the improvements, which have made the facilities more user-friendly, with disabled access. The work, which started a year ago, entailed alterations to the toilets, store, kitchen, vestry and hall, and the structure of the building was made safe by work on the wall ties. A platform lift was installed with funding from the Community Boost Fund run by Devon Renaissance. Members and friends of the church raised the money for the project, with additional funding, after a report on the building said various issues needed attention and in order to comply with disability recommendations and to make the facilities more attractive to all who used the buildings. Most of those at the service stayed for lunch and in the afternoon more than 40 cream teas were served as part of the Hope 2008 free cream teas Devonwide event. Members of the church thanked everyone who assisted in the project, including Devon Renaissance Community Boost Fund, Plymouth and Exeter Methodist District, Tavistock Methodist Circuit, members and friends of Sydenham Damerel Methodist Church, Cornwall Surveying, Heritage Preservation (South West) Ltd, West Devon Planning and Building Control, AC Worth, R and S Home Improvements, the Wheelchair Lift Co, Focus DIY, Fairway Furniture and Jewsons.