A celebration at All Saints' Church, Shipdham, marked the completion of the village's churchyard enhancement project.The event began with an escorted tour of the main project, the restoration of the churchyard wall, with Diocesan architect David Aldridge and project administrator Brian Kidd who showed about 60 visitors the various aspects of the intricate repairs to the 200-year old flint wall.

A celebration at All Saints' Church, Shipdham, marked the completion of the village's churchyard enhancement project.

The event began with an escorted tour of the main project, the restoration of the churchyard wall, with Diocesan architect David Aldridge and project administrator Brian Kidd who showed about 60 visitors the various aspects of the intricate repairs to the 200-year old flint wall. The project began in 2002 but really got going in 2004 when the floodlights were switched on and work on the wall began.

In the church after the tour, the Rev Louise Alder, priest-in-charge, led a service which was graced by the presence of the Archdeacon of Lynn, The Venerable John Ashe and Mrs Ashe.

During the service, Mr Kidd outlined the course of the CEP and its components which, in addition to the wall and floodlights programmes, involved many of the village organisations and individuals. Representatives from many of these sub-projects were invited to describe their activities. These included the Royal British Legion who are housing all the archives from the project in the Heritage Centre. Its chairman has personally produced post cards and calendars of the village from paintings donated by the late Ken Dickinson.

Other groups involved included the Thomas Bullock Primary School, with many pupils spendingt several hours watching and learning about flint wall building as a school project; the Horticultural Society who arranged for trees and spring bulbs to be planted; the Parish Council who are responsible for the wall and contributed heavily to its funding, the Parochial Church Council and the Wives' Group who have produced a book illustrating the history of Shipdham from 1066 to 2009.

Ann Mason from the Heritage Lottery Fund (formerly the Local Heritage Initiative) spoke of her delight in the CEP and was pleased to have been able to arrange the maximum grant of �25,000 for the project.

After the service, the group gathered in the churchyard where the Ven Ashe unveiled a commemorative plaque set into the wall.