CHAPEL-goers in St Briavels are continuing to despite a fire which caused extensive damage to the building.

Congregationalists have been offered a temporary home at St Briavels Church of England Primary School until the chapel in High Street is repaired.

Much of the interior of the Congregational church was seriously damaged in the fire on Monday, January 6.

Pastor Matt Rees – who has been at St Briavels since September – said: "The response from local people has been heartening.

"The way people have offered support and encouragement is really touching.

"Fundamentally we are about people not buildings so the fire has not put a stop to what we do.

"We work very closely with Robert Simpson (the Anglican associate priest at St Briavels) and Ian Barkley, the head at the school.

"We are meeting at the school and our main service is on Sunday mornings at 10am."

Much of the building, fixtures and fittings were extensively damaged by smoke and it is expected it will take around three months to return the building to a usable state.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated but there was no sign of a break-in or vandalism.

Smoke was spotted coming from the chapel by a villager at around 8am and the fire brigade was called immediately.

Two fire engines and 11 crew members were despatched from Coleford and they spent around two hours on the scene.

Pastor Rees said: "We are very grateful to the attentive person who saw the smoke and called the fire brigade.

"Their prompt action meant that although there is a lot of smoke damage the fire do not reach the roof timbers which would have caused a lot more damage."