THE storied history of Bondleigh and St James the Apostle Church is being unveiled thanks to a project aiming to save the church's roof.

The church is undergoing a project to re-roof its chancel and the south side of the north aisle and to repair and replace the valley gutter. The cost of the work is estimated at £81,000.

St James the Apostle Church has already successfully secured a grant of £46,800 from the Government's Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund to address urgent roof repairs that will ensure it is weathertight, safe and open for use.

It is one of 502 grants from a total funding package of £30-million that have been announced for urgent roof repairs for places of worship across the UK by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The fund is administered by the National Heritage Memorial Fund on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

A further application for funding has been submitted to the Headley Trust, part of the Sainsbury Trust and it is planned to submit an application to Devon Historic Churches Trust.

The Norman church was rebuilt in the late 15th to early 16th century and much reconstruction work was done in the 17th century. The 17th century work included the remodelling of most of the windows of the aisle and the insertion of a number of square ended benches, some plain and some roughly carved. The nave and aisle have their original wagon-roofs with carved bosses and there is some late 15th century glass portraying figures of the Annunciation.

The church is now fundraising with other events, including a 'Bondleigh History Weekend' on July 25 and 26.

Cath Pettyfer, part of the fundraising effort, said: 'Already this year Bondleigh has organised several events to raise money for the church roof fund including a coffee morning in May and recently a grand plant sale which were held in the church, and a Bondleigh band and cream tea event on the banks of the river Taw contributed further funds.

'The church is the only communal building the village has and so as well as being used as a place of worship is very important as a village focal point. Water and electricity were put in last year and this year a kitchen has been added.

'We've got in the curious ancient sundial over the south door dated 1706 which has the inscription: Dial is the name all men call me by, I measure time, and Time sweeps all away.

'Time has certainly swept many things away as can be seen in some of the old harvest time photos which will be on show. We are hoping that we will raise enough money to repair the church roof and that the church will not be swept away and will remain the same for a little bit longer!'

Among the artifacts on show at the history weekend is the Elizabethan Bondleigh Chalice. The chalice mysteriously disappeared in the 1940s, finding its way to New York and then to a Sotheby's London auction in 1990. Luckily it was spotted by Mr Kent, the librarian of the Silver Society, who telephoned the then Rector of Bondleigh and after much negotiation it was eventually returned to Bondleigh.

Other highlights include the parish baptism, marriage, burial and parish meeting records all dating back to the 1840s, a model of Bondleigh Mill when it was working with a detailed account of its history dating back to the 1600s and many photos relating to village houses and the village in general including pictures of the Bondleigh Home Guard.

On Saturday, July 25 the church will be open from 1pm to 5pm for people to visit the history exhibition. From 7.30pm archaeologist Stuart Blaylock will give a talk about the church. St James' patronal festival service will take place on Sunday July 26 at 11am with a final opportunity to see the history display from 2pm to 5pm.

Contact the church for more information.