Repair work at a chuch which faced a race against time to fix a damaged ceiling before a colony of bats returned to roost has all but been completed.

St Peter's Church in Spixworth closed in 2020 as the first stage of repairs were carried out, although they had to be completed by April 2021, when a colony of about 400 soprano pipistrelle bats returned.

Eastern Daily Press:

Builders working on the ceiling of the Grade 1 listed church, which was built in about 1160, also discovered an active honey bee colony but still managed to complete the repairs on time.

This allowed the church to reopen for worship in June 2021 while the final work was finished.

Eastern Daily Press:

And with just "a small amount of repainting" which needs to be completed in the autumn "to sign off the repair work" the church is ready for a packed summer of events.

Sheelah Cook, churchwarden at the Buxton Road church, said: "As well as the complications of the Covid pandemic repairs were also held up as the church has a thriving maternity roost of around 300 - 400 plus bats, so work could only be undertaken during the winter and early spring when the bats were hibernating elsewhere. 

"Fortunately they roost in the south aisle from April to August, away from the area that needed the major repairs. 

Eastern Daily Press:

"This summer we hope to hold some events showing off this lovely church, starting with bluebell walks on May 1st and some bat evenings in July.

"Although the bats do create a bit of a mess we have learned to live with them and feel it is a privilege to have an amazing church and churchyard which hosts snowdrops, wood anemones, bluebells coming out just after Easter and all the wildlife that thrive around the church." 

All are welcome to visit the church which is open from about 9am to 6pm daily for quiet personal reflection and for regular Sunday services.