A CAMPAIGN has started to raise cash for urgent work on Wootton Wawen's 100-year-old church.

St Benedict's celebrated its centenary last year but, at a recent meeting, the Parish Pastoral Council announced the need to raise at least £30,000 for a series of improvements.

Frederick Dyer, chair of the pastoral council, said it was required under church rules to contribute around £5,000 to new classrooms at St Mary's School in Henley, 10 per cent of the total cost of the work, and were working closely with the school's PTA to help raise the cash.

"We also have to raise £30,000 to make the church premises disabled-friendly under the Disability Discrimination Act, so we are building new disabled toilets," he said.

"We will also be carrying out some urgent repairs to the presbytery so all in all we will have to find between £35,000 and £40,000 - we have to allow for rising costs, it usually happens that you start doing work and the costs get higher."

He said they planned to raise the cash over the next two years and had already held a Parish Fun Day earlier in the year.

And this Friday, a quiz night and fish and chip supper will be held in the presbytery conservatory, starting at 7.30pm, organised by Sally Whitehead and Christine Moulder.

Mr Dyer added: "This is just another one of many events we will be holding over the next few years.

"We will raise the money, we are a small but very organised parish and we have a very dedicated congregation and a wonderful parish priest - it's going to be hard, but fun."

Anyone is welcome at the quiz night, either in teams of six to eight, or as individuals to join a team on arrival.

Tickets are available in advance from Sally Whitehead on 01564 742995.