A bishop and historian are urging people to support a north Essex church refurbishment project by attending its fundraising fete on Saturday.

East Anglian Daily Times: The Bishop of Colchester, The Right Reverend Roger Morris, on top of Peldon Church tower, St Mary the Virgin, to raise awareness of its fete Picture: NICK STRUGNELLThe Bishop of Colchester, The Right Reverend Roger Morris, on top of Peldon Church tower, St Mary the Virgin, to raise awareness of its fete Picture: NICK STRUGNELL (Image: Pic: nick strugnell� No Unauthorised Use. All rights reserved. Contact photographer before use.)

The Friends of St Mary the Virgin in Peldon, near Colchester, are holding the fete to raise funds to replace the church’s Victorian floor.

Bill Tamblyn, a historian and music professor who runs the New Peldon History Project, said the building was constantly in need of repairs.

He said the floor had become “uneven and awful” and needed replacing, costing £80,000, of which £50,000 had been raised.

“Saturday’s fete is our biggest fundraising event of the year and we hope people will turn out to support us,” he added.

The Bishop of Colchester, The Right Reverend Roger Morris, who helped launch plans for the fete, added: “The church has been a focal point of this village for a thousand years. I hope plenty of people will turn out on Saturday, have fun and support the efforts of The Friends of St Mary’s.”

The fete, in Lodge Lane, Peldon, runs from 11am-5pm on Saturday, June 9, featuring an aerobatic display by a YAK 52 plane, a fiednly dog shiw, craft and produce stalls.

Visit Friends of St Mary’s Peldon for details.