This is a text-only version of an article first published on Wednesday, 23 October 2013. Information shown on this page may no longer be current.
STADHAMPTON has a brand new village hall - within the ancient St John's Church.
Bishop Colin cuts the celebratory cake with Ann Stead.
"The Village Hall at St John's", was officially opened by MP Dr John Howell, a great supporter of the Project from the outset.
The project has taken and five years and provides Stadhampton and Chiselhampton and the surrounding communities with a hall.
The Project provided improved heating, lighting and insulation for the Church as well as a kitchen and toilet facilities.
The Church will now be more economical to run - on a like for like basis - because of the environmentally friendly changes that have been made. The Rt Revd Colin Fletcher, the Bishop of Dorchester, said: "I'm really excited to see this project come to fruition after many years of planning and fundraising.
The idea of adapting the church to provide first class community facilities is a win for us all.
I hope it will be the blueprint for more similar projects in the future in other villages so that our churches can continue to serve the needs of the communities in the best way possible.
That is exactly what the Church of England is here for. "The grand opening was followed by a weekend of celebrations including an afternoon of family fun and a service of celebration led by Bishop Colin.