Fundraising fun continues apace at historic Rugby village church
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The Advertiser reported last year about the major work going on to restore St Nicholas Church in Willoughby and also to bring its facilities up to date – and that has seen a rich variety of events to boost the money received from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the restoration and from other sources.
Last week saw the fashion show – with the twist of churchwarden Karen Nichols dressing up in memorable outfits from the past between the main features – but on Sunday, April 16, anything goes when it holds a scarecrow festival.
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Hide AdThis runs from 1.30pm-4.30pm, with families and village organisations invited to build a scarecrow to be displayed in the church.
![Back to the future... Willoughby churchwarden Karen Nichols brought history to life at last Thursday's fashion show as she donned a variety of outfits from across the decades.](https://www.warwickshireworld.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjFjMWI0NjhhLWY3ZjgtNDk1NS1hNmY1LWVjNWNjYWJmZDk1OTo5ZTY4MjAwOS1jNjhjLTRmNTctOGEyZC0zNzU4OGEzNWQzNGE=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![Back to the future... Willoughby churchwarden Karen Nichols brought history to life at last Thursday's fashion show as she donned a variety of outfits from across the decades.](/img/placeholder.png)
There will also be crafts for children to make crowns and Commonwealth flags for the coronation, refreshments – plus a prize for the best scarecrow.
In terms of the said the ongoing projects, Mrs Nichols said things were going well and the village has continued to receive good news: “Our nave roof is complete and looking amazing as is the stonework repairs to date – we still have some more to do there.
“We have started the community garden using volunteers and the area is nearly all dug over.
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Hide Ad"Our next step is to lay concrete slabs for a seating area with a very special feature from the church.”
![A dramatic moment from the church's Tudor Shrove Tuesday event.](https://www.warwickshireworld.com/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ3NjYyZGYyLWU3NjAtNDE1Mi05ZWI4LWIzNTIxMzMwOTI1MDo4ZDQ0MzM4ZC1mZjE5LTRkY2QtOWRjNy03NDgxMzRjNDU5YzQ=.jpg?crop=3:2,smart&width=640&quality=65)
![A dramatic moment from the church's Tudor Shrove Tuesday event.](/img/placeholder.png)
Other recent events have included a Tudor Shrove Tuesday event in the church and churchyard, with children having a go at jousting, courtesy of a giant scarecrow, jousts and hobby horses, plus pancakes in church.
This spirit will be repeated in a heritage weekend in July which also has a Viking re-enactment, morris dancers, birds of prey, hula hooping and circus skills, among others.
In terms of the further good news, Mrs Nichols said: “In addition, the village hall has also managed to secure just over £9,000 towards a new kitchen from the Lottery Community Fund.
"So we are a very lucky village. This is on top of another grant and work can start here as enough funds are in place now.
"Community-wise it is a pretty amazing village.”