A WHOPPING £40,000 needs to be raised “urgently” so that a project to restore the collapsed chancel floor at Blackmoor’s Victorian church can continue.

This is part of a repair bill set to cost around £180,000, with the £40,000 needed to “keep the project going” at St Matthew’s Church Blackmoor and Whitehill, according to spokeswoman Jocelyn Morgan.

After this total is reached, the rest of the remaining £105,000 still needed will be raised.

St Matthew’s previously secured an £80,000 loan from the diocese to start the repair work to its floor, but this will have to be repaid.

Jocelyn continued they have “bits and pieces” of grants coming in, and will be hosting a number of fundraising events in and around the Bordon area.

She said: “It’s a small community and so it’s the same people having to find the money each time we host fundraising events.

“So we’re trying to find more people to help.”

Fundraising events scheduled so far include:

*A concert at St Matthew’s Primary School, Blackmoor, on Saturday, February 29

*Barn dance at Whitehill Village Hall with a two-course meal, licensed bar and raffle on Saturday, May 2

*Open Garden at Eveley Corner Cottage, Whitehill, with BBQ, licences bar, plant stall and other stalls, raffle and entertainment on Saturday, June 13

*Dance day at Blackmoor Village Hall with six dance classes of an hour, lunch and all day cafe on Saturday, October 17

*Race night at Whitehill Village Hall with a two-course supper, licensed bar and raffle on Saturday, November 21.

As previously reported in the Bordon Herald, the disaster occurred just a month into a 20-week programme of work to shore up the chancel.

Jocelyn added: “The community have been amazing. It shocked everyone.

“We knew we had to get it sorted, but it was only once works started we realised how big the hole was.

“We’re still on track for 20 weeks and the workers are doing an amazing job.

“Hopefully it won’t collapse again and will keep going for another 150 years!”

St Matthew’s, a Grade II* listed building which celebrated its 150th birthday last year, is currently closed and services are taking place in the village hall, which they’ve been “kindly” able to use for free.

*To make a donation online go to www.wonderful.org/charity/stmatthewschurchblackmoorwhitehill or st-matthews.org