Fundraisers have stepped up their campaign to restore a Shrewsbury church to its former glory. The St Chad’s Campaign aims to raise £2.5 million to redevelop the historical building which is close to the town’s Quarry.

The banner on St Chad's Church in Shrewsbury

And to coincide with the Shrewsbury Flower Show this weekend a huge banner has gone up on the church to alert people to the campaign.

Mark Thomas, vicar of St Chad’s, said in three months they had raised £550,000 but it was hoped campaigners could now reach out beyond the congregation to the wider public who would be visiting the flower show in their thousands.

Mr Thomas said: “Our first job to do is repair the tower roof lead and pilasters, which sit below the roof.

“Because this weekend is such a busy one for us with lots of visitors we wanted to draw people’s attention to our campaign.

“As soon as it went up someone came up to me and asked what it was all about and how to get involved so it has already had an effect.”

Mr Thomas said that they would be launching the latest phase of the appeal with a meeting of the new campaign team under the guidance of Peter Flint, the team chairman.

He added: “The new team’s job is to take the campaign to the next stage and organise it professionally.

“We’ve been talking about it for a long time so I’m glad to see it under way.”

Peter Road-Night, Shrewsbury Flower Show’s secretary, said they were pleased to see the latest phase of the campaign starting.

He said: “We’ve supported St Chad’s in the past as we are very close neighbours, we have a long history together and have given them various donations in the past.”

St Chad’s is Shrewsbury’s civic church, where ceremonies such as the mayor-making and Remembrance services are held.

The church was opened on August 19, 1792, and differs from typical Georgian design, mixing Ionic, Doric and Corinthian styles in its interior and facade.

The delicate banisters and slender pillars supporting the gallery are early products of the Industrial Revolution then beginning in Shropshire.

It is also where Charles Darwin was baptised in 1809.

For information on the St Chad’s campaign telephone (01743) 368121 or e-mail info@stchadscampaign.org. uk Details are also available at www.stchadschurchshrewsbury.com