MORE than two centuries after being sealed shut by the Lord of the Manor, an historic church entrance has been opened once again.
A small crowd watched on as craftsmen worked to open the door at St Michael's Church, in Woodham Walter, which has been bolted shut for 218 years.
The parishioners, who have been fundraising over recent months to carry out repairs to the historic building, became the first to step through the newly opened door on the south side of the building set to become an emergency exit.
"To see the sunlight come flooding through the door after over 200 years shut was fantastic," said Geoff Hicks, the fabric officer at St Michael's which will celebrate it's 450th anniversary this year.
Its outlines invisible from the church's interior, the south-side door would have been the lord's dedicated entrance and its now-dismantled porch a place where village business was discussed.
But by 1795 the Manor House had been pulled down and the doorway was blocked up by plaster work. The decision to knock it through accompanies a programme of repairs and additions to the church to ensure it boasts some modern amenities.
"We don't currently have running water, toilets, or any kitchen facilities which can be quite tricky," added Mr Hicks.
"We actually invited around 40 of our major donors for the project to come and watch the door being knocked through as a sort of thank you."
The proposed improvements include toilets, a tea point, disabled access and the historic emergency exit, with an estimated cost of £107,000.
A series of events including flower festivals, plant sales, concerts, lectures and donations are ongoing to raise funds for the work, with a rough finishing date of three months' time.
"We celebrate our 450th birthday on September 29 and it would be lovely if it could all be done by then," added Geoff.
