A CHURCH has been resurrected by a community seven years after it was severely damaged by fire.

Villagers in Brancepeth, County Durham, agreed to pay what they could to help fund the restoration of the Grade I-listed Norman church of St Brandon.

The 17th Century woodwork was destroyed in the fire on September 16, 1998, but yesterday the new-look church was blessed and rededicated by the Bishop of Durham, the Right Reverend Tom Wright.

He said: "When the fire destroyed the church it was very depressing and debilitating.

"It is devastating when any building is gutted by fire. When it is a church that holds memories for people, it is even more devastating.

"But the community said 'No, we have got to rebuild it and put it back together again'.

"It used to be quite a dark old church, but they have made it a place of extraordinary light. It is quite wonderful."

"It shows that out of disaster new life can be born and I am grateful to this community for not losing heart, because seven years is a long time."

The Very Reverend Adrian Dorber, who was priest at St Brandon's at the time of the fire and is now Dean of Lichfield, attended the service.

He said: "Everything is much more visible and you can see everything around you. It is perfect for concerts and shows as well as worship.

"We said from the start we wanted to make the house of the church the house of the community."

The refurbishment has cost £3.2m, but not all of it came from villagers' pockets.

The insurance paid £1.9m and the work attracted various grants, while residents have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds by holding art exhibitions, fashion shows, dances and meals.

Individuals and families have donated windows to the church, and paid to have the font restored, to provide a personal touch to the church.

Former art teacher John Morgan carved a crucifix out of one of the charred timbers of the old roof.

He said: "The wood only chars about an inch deep, so I was able to plane it off.

"I left the burnt bits on with a nail in it because the nails are quite significant for a crucifix.

"It is a bit reminiscent of the church and it is a gesture of the historic background of the church."