St Michael and All Angel's Church becomes a catwalk for fundraising fashion show

St Michael and All Angel's Church will be transformed into a catwalk to raise funds to finally complete the construction of the 105-year-old church.

With about half of the £700,000 needed to build a new extension, already secured, Reverend Gavin Knight has turned to the fashion gods in an attempt to complete the project.

Striking his best "Blue Steel" pose – made famous in the Zoolander films –for the Oxford Mail cameras, he said: "The church is in a difficult position as we are not large enough to apply for and get larger grants made available and have had to go to smaller trusts and charities.

"With the smaller trusts there are many other voluntary organisations also looking for funding.

"We wanted to do something different and something that would encourage the local community to come along."

Rev Knight said the idea stemmed from the popular St Albans Fashion Show at St Albans Cathedral which has since turned into a Fashion Week attended

He said: "It has been very successful at St Albans and they even have a week of events.

"I don't expect our show to reach that level but hope it will go down well."

When the church was built in 1909, construction was cut short due to lack of funds and a temporary west wall was erected instead.

For more than a century endeavours to complete the west side of the Grade II listed church were deemed unnecessary.

But last year Rev Knight took up the project and began a campaign to finance the extension – named The Threshold – which will include toilets, a kitchen, offices, storage and a meeting room.

It will create new facilities to be used in addition to the church's nearby hall.

Designer wear from smart casual to wedding dresses will be on show and there will be a raffle, an auction, a bar and even a chocolate fountain.

Tickets for the event on March 19 cost £5 and can be booked by calling Leah Mattinson on 01865 311762 or by emailing bookings@stmichaels-summertown.org.uk