AFTER months of anticipation, worshippers were able to celebrate their new and improved 12th century Grade I-listed church.

Parishioners were elated to finally have the scaffolding taken off St Edburg’s Church in Bicester.

Earlier this month the golden cockerel was back in its rightful place for Remembrance Sunday.

The major renovation works, which started in June, meant scaffolding had been lining the walls of the tower - which was added in the 15th century - for months.

The church was awarded cash from the Heritage Lottery Fund for restoration of its Grade I-listed building, parts of which date back 900 years.

The main repairs and renovation works allowed the golden cockerel to be taken down and it was re-gilded with three layers of gold leaf – each one-thousandth of an inch thick.

Renovation was concentrated on replacing and repairing damaged stone on the tower.

Repairs were carried out to the tower and north porch and walls were repointed where needed.

Coping stones and string courses were ‘severely’ eroded in a number of places, which meant dampness was getting into the walls and damaging the structure.

Church staff said the parapet wall on the north porch was ‘dangerous’ so has been completely rebuilt with replacement stone.