THE Bishop of St Albans is the first person to pledge his support to the Review's ‘Raise the Roof’ fundraising appeal for St Michael's Church.

Rt Reverend Alan Smith responded with open arms to our plea to lend a helping hand to the St Albans church which was devastated after vandals struck last week.

Thieves stole the lead roof leaving which led to rain pouring into the building, as reported by the Review online last Tuesday.

Our article also revealed that two funerals had to be cancelled at the 1,000-year-old church.

That included the service of Edith Thrussell, a parisioner for 58 years, who specified in her will that she wanted her funeral to be held at St Michael's.

As a result the Review has launched a campaign to raise money so the roof can be repaired and Reverend Smith was the first to donate.

He said: “I am really pleased to hear about this appeal and I am happy to be one of the first to contribute.

“What a wonderful example of the commitment of a newspaper to its community. I hope the appeal will be an enormous help in returning St Michael's to use for the whole community.”

The Review has also secured a pledge from St Albans Centre of Voluntary Services to get businesses to come forward which fundraising ideas.

The church’s vicar Reverend Brett Gray told the Review: “Thefts of lead from church roofs are an increasing problem.

“We were dreading it happening here and now it has. This is one of the most important historical buildings in St Albans.

“It is not just church goers who are affected though, huge numbers of people in this community have a feeling for this building. The primary school uses it for assemblies.

“I don't know how much money they could get for a bit of lead but these people obviously don't realise the impact this has on so many people.

“At the moment the church is unusable”

Talking about Edith’s funeral, he added: “Having to tell Edith's family we could not have the funeral in the church was one of the most difficult things I have had to do since I became vicar. They were very upset, as were the family of Desmond Howlett whose funeral was also moved."

The funeral of Mr Howlett, a reader at St Michael's for 27 years, was moved to St Albans Abbey on Tuesday afternoon last week while Mrs Thrussell’s services was at St Leonard's in Sandridge.

Church warden at St Michael's, Gill Huckerby, told the Review they have already received a mountain of support from local people.

She said: “We are having a temporary roof fitted at the moment to keep it watertight. But eventually - and it will take a little while - we are hoping to replace the roof completely.

“We have already got lots of up and coming events building up and we welcome anyone's help with fundraising. “We have had a lot of support and a lot of people sending in donations.”

The Portland Arms in Portland Street, St Albans is holding a quiz night tonight and all the proceeds will be donated to the church.

The Review is sending out an appeal to the local community to show its generous support. You can either send your donations to the church: The Vicarage, St Michael's Street, St Albans, AL3 4SL. Alternatively you can send cheques made payable to St Michael’s Church to the Review Church Appeal, Observer House, Caxton Court, Caxton Way, Watford, WD18 8RJ.

To share your fundraising ideas with us you can contact reporter Manisha Mistry on 07774 556 966 or email mmistry@london.newsquest.co.uk To offer your support through donations or organised fundraising events contact reporter Manisha Mistry on 07774 556 966 or email mmistry@london.newsquest.co.uk.