A CHURCH has reopened after a renovation which saw 43 bodies discovered in unmarked graves.

On January 11 around 160 people attended St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Swanscombe Street, Swanscombe, to celebrate its reopening after a £275,000 transformation.

Renovations, which included repairing the church tower and installing central heating, were funded by the Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust, which provides grants to churches and charities across Kent.

Rev David Scott invited News Shopper to look around the refurbished church.

The 68-year-old said: “The work had been needed for a long time and we are all very excited to get into the new church.

“The central heating is obviously very welcome, especially with the current cold weather.

“I know the congregation will be very pleased not to be freezing during services.”

From the beginning of the renovation in August through to late October, 43 bodies were found in unmarked graves while the church cemetery was dug-up for drainage work.

Archaeologist Guy Seddon, who oversaw the work in the graveyard, said: “The bodies found included men, women and children and the majority of them seem to be around 200 to 300 years old.”

Mr Seddon, who has been an archaeologist for 14 years and works for London-based Pro Construct Archaeology, says the graves were probably unmarked because the tombstones had been displaced over the years.

The bodies were held in storage until work on the cemetery was finished in early November and were then buried again, with Rev Scott performing a service.

The current church building was first put up around the 12th century, although stones in the south wall of the tower were first laid around 1050.

It is the oldest building in Swanscombe.

For details of services at the church, visit the website stpeterandstpaul.org.uk or call 01322 383160.