An appeal for St Helen's Church in Abingdon moves to Oxford this week when a Victorian Music Hall night is staged.

Unable to find a suitable location in Abingdon because of Christmas music commitments, the St Helen's team has booked Oxford's Holywell Music Rooms in Holywell Street on December 13.

The £2m restoration programme for the church has been set back 12 months because of a shortfall in cash for the first phase and delays over grant applications.

The church was due to have closed in September for six months while phase one of an extensive improvement scheme got underway.

Part of the Holywell Music Hall programme is a seasonal story called What the Dickens? which was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at Christmas 1996.

Fund organiser Ian Miles asked the author for permission to use it -- and that search uncovered a surprise.

The writer Iain Pattison lives in Marcham and he made an unusual contribition to the appeal's Promises Auction.

The auction raised £2,500 from 80 lots -- more than £3,000 with tax reclaimed.

And among the "promises" auctioned was a one-hour individual, creative writing coaching session provided by Mr Pattison.

Teenager Claire Hosking from Abingdon paid £30 for the coaching session.

Mr Miles said: "It's an amazing coincidence to make contact with Mr Pattison and find he lives at Marcham, only a short distance away from our church."

Performing at the Music Hall production will be members of the Abingdon Operatic Society, Abingdon Academicals from Abingdon School and some members of the choir of Magdalen College, Oxford.

The Music Hall starts at 7.45pm.

Tickets cost £10, concessions £6.50 and are available from St Helen's Parish office on 01235 520144 or on the door.