The Beautiful Church of Saint Matthew's Marstow had needed a considerable amount of restoration work and to this end, an appeal was launched two years ago, which raised over £50,000 to pay for the work to be carried out. The porch was badly crumbling and the church was in danger of being closed due to this. The bellcote was unsafe and the bells, one of which dates back to the fourteenth century had in fact been removed in 1998.

The restoration work is finished now and on Sunday, a special service to give thanks for the restoration and for harvest took place. Bishop Michael Hooper of Ludlow led the service along with Rev. Tony Kelk.

Below are a series of photographs of St. Matthew's. One was taken when work on the porch was just beginning and the others on Sunday 10th October 2004, just prior to the service.

As a bystander, on a lovely sunny day in the quiet village of Marstow, I could picture a medieval scene, listening to the chiming of the two bells, which were being rung for the first time at a service in over 20 years.

Sue Rolf and Phyll Webber, fund raisers. Ref: DSC_4648

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