On Sunday 6th July there was a celebratory service at All Saints, Wilby to mark the end of the repair project – Phase I, Phase II and Phase III.

The thanksgiving service was held with grateful appreciation for the generous donations from our grant awarding partners and the professionalism of all the firms involved in the project, led by our architect Ruth Blackman BA Hons Dip Arch RIBA. The work on the nave roof and the retiling of the chancel roof, together with the reinstatement of the chancel ceiling, will ensure that All Saints continues to serve the local and wider communities for generations to come. Following the service the sunshine returned and we were able to enjoy afternoon tea outdoors.

Many of the people who attended the service had an historical connection to All Saints and many had sponsored stars for their families and loved ones. The newly gilded stars on the chancel ceiling (by David Ord Kerr Dip. R.A.S.) were dedicated during the service by Reverend Sarah Walsh. We were delighted to welcome Reverend Canon Ann Easter whose connections with Wilby Church go back to 2022 when she presented All Saints, Wilby with the National Churches Trust Friends’ Vote Award. A chaplain to the late Queen Elizabeth II and with many real-world stories to tell, Canon Ann drew upon her BBC broadcasting experience to provide a very informative address and highlighted the role of rural churches in supporting local communities.