AFTER nearly a four-year fight to get funding for the project, work has started on repairing the crumbling stonework of Selborne’s 800-year-old parish church.

Richard Irwin, chairman of the Parochial Church Council, said the work was going on St Mary’s was going well.

“You can see the contrast with the newly restored stonework, including around the church porch, and the rest that is still to be done,” he said.

The saving of the precious fabric of the Saxon church is a personal triumph for the Parochial Church Council which took the first steps towards securing a Heritage Lottery grant.

Mr Irwin, assisted by his wife Dr Rosemary Irwin, did all the paperwork for the application for Lottery funding.

He said at the time: “The first part was successful thanks to the support and help from church council members Stewart Tate and Robert Uypdegraff.”

When £16,000, part of the grant asked for, came through, it was on condition it was matched by the church council, and the village rallied to help them make up the money with donations and fundraising events.

The £16,000 was needed to pay for the development preparations, including repairs; producing a survey on the bat population and a report on the structure of the building; making alterations to the tower entrance; putting out tenders for the work, and confirming the appointment of architect Simon Cox.

When the plan was accepted, the Lottery Commission agreed the rest of the grant, in all £100,000, giving the go ahead for the repairs and renovations to get under way. It is also hoped to digitise the church records which, at present, can only be viewed at Winchester and to improve the heating.

Last week work began on the exterior of the building which should guarantee the church will be there for parishioners for decades to come.

Mr Irwin said last year: “The church isn’t in danger of falling down but it is a Grade-I listed building and, as such, we have to make sure it is preserved.

“We are simply carrying out good housekeeping in looking after the church and this is very much a community project.”