AFTER months of planning and fundraising, renovators finally moved in to commence work on the tower at St George’s Church in Littleport this week.

The church tower dates back to the 15th century and, over the years, the weather has taken its toll on the external stone walls, leaving it in urgent need of repair and earning the building a place on English Heritage’s At Risk Register.

Planning for the project started in May 2011 when the church applied for grants to help meet the £250,000 cost and a series of fundraising events were also held.

At the beginning of the year, after a successful fundraising drive, all plans had been drawn up and approved, tenders had been sent to contractors and a contractor appointed.

The church received grants from the English Heritage Lottery Fund, Cambridgeshire Community Foundation, All Churches Trust, Cambridgeshire Historic Churches Trust and via Section 106 grants.

Members of The Littleport Society sent in donations totalling more than £4,000, some from around the world, which helped greatly.

The knitted character Bishop George also did his bit, visiting all 42 cathedrals in England, with the help of our sacristan, Lennie Prigg, raising more than £2,500.

Bishop George, who had been knitted by a member of our congregation, Avis Bidwell, was on hand to supervise the commencement of the work this week.