Sir - I am writing to clarify certain points in your recent piece on St John the Evangelist, Fernham (Church might apply for alcohol licence, February 29) which contained a number of unfortunate inaccuracies.

As the article said, we were delighted to win £90,000 of National Lottery funding to develop the church for wider community use. We have exciting plans for providing a welcoming and comfortable venue for many community activities which are simply not possible today. This will make a huge positive impact on reducing our reliance on cars and help us to restore St John's to its place at the heart of our small community.

However, I must stress that these plans are still under discussion with the diocese as we are dealing with a historic building and place of worship, any such developments need to be handled with care. It is also important to say that the Fernham community treasures its small church and is keen to ensure its unique features are retained while the building is adapted for wider community use.

I would like to reassure your readers that - contrary to the report - the church is not in danger of losing its name. As a consecrated building, this would be against Canon Law and entirely inappropriate.

However, it is possible that in future it might be known as St John's Church and Community Centre'.

Nor is it true that the altar is to be screened off to avoid offending non churchgoers. Equally, no decision has yet been made about applying for an alcohol licence. While we are delighted to have received this grant to help make the church more suitable for wider community use, St John's is first and foremost a church with a Christian mission and will remain so in the future.

Rev Richard Hancock, St Andrew's Vicarage, Shrivenham