May 6th 1960

Reach Church Restoration is Dedicated

When Reach Church was badly damaged by lightning in September 1957 it must have seemed that the ruined. building would remain that way for many years while funds for. .it's restoration slowly accumulated.

The damage amounted to £2,600 so the villagers set to work to find .the money, and were so energetic and. successful that on Friday evening the Bishop of Ely, the Rt. Rev. Noel B. Hudson, dedicated the restored church.

'In addition to repairing the fabric .of the church the villagers have also set themselves' the task of raising £450, to improve the interior of the building, £253 of which was raised in 11 months. They are confident of raising the rest of the money by the end of the year.

INTERIOR WORK

The, dedication, service on Friday was attended by all those who had worked for the restoration, not only the people of Reach itself but also from neighbouring villages such as Mr. C. J. Bourne, the architect from Commercial End and Mr. P. Golding,, the builder from Longmeadow.

A lot of work on the interior was done by people living in the village, for example. the fine candelabra was made, there and there are plans to build a modern baroque organ The original pews were destroyed but the villagers were able to acquire some. Which were no longer needed by the church at Soham.

CENTENARY YEAR

In a short address the Bishop said how happy he was to be participating in such a notable occasion. He felt that nothing could be more appropriate than that this dedication to St. Etheldreda and the HolyTrinity 'should be taking place in the centenary year of the foundation of the church.

This was his first.opportunity of worshipping with the people of Reach since he had become Bishop and he joined with them in offering 'their thanksgiving to God.