A major project to save St Andrew’s Church historic tower in Farnham is moving forward, with a new project manager due to take up the post next month.

Helen Ellis, who has extensive experience of heritage projects and working with churches, starts on September 14.

Her appointment marks an important step forward for the project, following months of work behind the scenes since funding was secured.

Rev David Uffindell of St Andrew’s said the first phase would focus on assembling the project team and developing the plans, with a finance officer, project coordinator and architect also to be appointed.

Rev Uffinedell said: “This first phase is a design phase - we’re imagining that things will emerge that we haven’t yet thought of.”

The project is expected to reach the end of its design phase in March 2028, when St Andrew’s will apply for further Heritage Fund support to take the plans into construction.

A key part of the project will be strengthening the church’s role as a community and cultural hub. St Andrew’s already hosts concerts, drama and other events, including performances by students rehearsing Shakespeare and music evenings.

There are also plans to develop partnerships with the University for the Creative Arts, local bellringers, the British Pilgrimage Trust and Farnham Furniture Makers.

Among the church’s treasures attracting renewed attention is its Pugin Window. Rev Uffindell said its significance was increasingly being recognised nationally, with University for the Creative Arts expert Stephen Knott due to give a talk about the window as part of an upcoming programme.

Public involvement will also be central and Rev Uffindell hopes local people will be able to contribute through volunteering, creative projects and other forms of participation.

“We really want people to feel they’ve got some sense of ownership in this and a stake,” he said.