Art at the church

St Michael's and All Angels Church in Bunwell (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2016)

An exhibition is being planned to raise money for the St Michael and All Angels Church at Bunwell, which needs urgent repair work to fix its leaky roof.

Organiser Joy Easton, from the Bunwell Church Roof Fund, said paintings and photography with a springtime theme by scores of Bunwell Primary School pupils would go on show at the church.

Works by Wymondham High School arts students as well as adult artists from the community will also be part of the exhibition, which will take place on April 22 and April 23.

Mrs Easton said the schoolchildren would have a chance to see the exhibition at a separate showing, and then there would be viewings open to the public spread over the two days.

She said: 'On the afternoon of April 22 the school children will be able to come along and see their exhibits.

'Then from 7pm to 9.30pm the exhibition will be open to the public, and we will be having a glass of wine and nibbles to raise money.

'Then on April 23, a Saturday, the church will be open for anyone to visit and see the artworks from 10.30am until 4.30pm, and refreshments will be available throughout the day.'

Mrs Easton said £100,000 would be needed to repair the damaged sections of the Norman church's roof, which is leaking.

Volunteers have already organised one fundraiser for the cause, a dance which was held at the Bunwell Village Hall on February 17.

Mrs Easton said the dance was a big success.

She said: 'That event was very well supported and it was a lot of fun.

'There was a big range of ages there who were dancing different styles - the younger ones got up and did a bit of line dancing.'

Mrs Easton said she also hoped to apply for money to fix the roof through sources including the Heritage Lottery Fund.

She said: 'I'm hoping that when we get this event out of the way I can start putting in some bids to the lottery and heritage fund.'

The church was built in the 15th century and includes some of the widest naves and chancels of any of Norfolk's churches.

The evening exhibition will be sponsored by Lovewell Blake accountants and financial advisors in Norwich.

For more information about the exhibition or other fundraisers for the church, email Mrs Easton on joybanyards@btinternet.com.