THE community got their hands dirty helping with the redevelopment of a derelict church in Malmesbury.

The Friends of Athelstan Museum (FOAM) recently purchased the Moravian Church with donations from the community, to extend the adjacent museum.

The team wasted no time in readying the site for the redevelopment, clearing away trees, unwanted shrubs and ivy.

What started out with a half-dozen volunteers soon became 15, as passers-by joined in and grabbed a trowel.

Roger Griffin, a former chairman of FOAM who was heavily involved in bid to acquire the church, took part in the clean-up.

“We cleared a lot of ivy that was growing out onto the pavement and around the door and uncovered 8 graves under the shrubbery,” he said.

“Going forward we have two options: we can either plant a little garden there or put in gravel in with a couple of planters.”

The last of the clearing-up of the site will be done in the coming weeks and work has already begun on organising the redevelopment itself.

“We have started to do some of the admin work for the redevelopment,” continued Roger.

“We’re sorting out architects to draw up plans.”