A Shropshire vicar hoping to unearth the secrets of a medieval chapel lost to the ravages of time has missed out on a cash bid to fund it.

The Reverend Kevin Evans discovered a long forgotten “Lady Chapel” at Wombridge Parish Church in Telford back in April.

It led to him being dubbed the “pastoral Indiana Jones” and a bid for a £300,000 grant from the Veolia Environmental Trust was submitted to fully uncover the mysterious ruins.

Mr Evans said his bid had been rejected but urged the local community to get involved with the project.

An on-site dig is planned from August 15 under the supervision of English Heritage and Dr Malcolm Hislop, a local archaeologist.

He said: “We have received official notification that we were unsuccessful in our bid for grant support from the Veolia Environmental Trust.

“Whilst the final outcome is disappointing, the process itself was very valuable in that it made us clarify our thinking and sharpen our focus about the overall project.

“The more we have thought about it, the more there is to gain for so many people now and in the future. We have also been tremendously encouraged by the support and enthusiasm of those wanting to get involved as volunteers.”

Mr Evans added to discover the secrets of the chapel he would need the dedicated help of volunteers, and possibly cash sponsors.

He said: “We need financial and other help to make this happen.

“We are grateful for the sponsorship of all our local funeral directors and another donor, but desperately need more sponsorship or help with, for example, the loan or gift of sturdy wheelbarrows, work gloves, a porter’s trolley or similar.

“We are sure that this project will happen because of the level of interest in and support for it. We simply can’t let this important piece of history disappear beneath the weeds again unexplored and unrecorded.”

The Lady Chapel was constructed between 1282 and 1320 and was raided for materials to help build Apley Castle.

For information contact Mr Evans (01952) 613334.

By Peter Finch