WORK to restore the tower of a Cam church has reached completion at the end of a three year project.

The tower of St George’s Church, in Upper Cam, has been repaired following an inspection that found deterioration of the mortar pointing and some areas of stonework.

Fundraising was carried out by the church to raise the required £70,000 and scaffolding was erected in June 2014 for work to commence.

After church architect Peter Gilbert Scott first identified the problem, specialist restorers Kilcot Conservation Ltd were engaged to carry out the necessary work on the tower.

After the money was raised and with the scaffolding in place last year it was possible to carry out a more detailed inspection and it was found that repairs were also necessary for the pinnacles that at the top of the tower.

The additional cost meant additional fundraising, and so efforts were redoubled by the congregation, and particularly by fabric officer Bob Priest, who was responsible for identifying grant opportunities and making a case for awards.

A number of grant organisations were extremely generous, including Gloucestershire Environmental Trust who made a substantial donation.

It was hoped that work would take only six to eight weeks but, due to the need to repair the pinnacles, it took longer, with the scaffolding finally coming down in late January this year.

The church would like to pay thanks to all the organisations that provided grant money, the congregation and friends of St George’s, Peter Gilbert Scott, Andy MacKenzie of Kilcot Conservation and Deane Sergeant, the stonemason who carried out most of the work on the tower.