It is just three weeks since the devastating blaze that ripped through St Nicholas' in the early hours of Palm Sunday morning.

But already plans are being made for its future and the long process of resurrecting it from the ashes has begun.

The church congregation has continued to meet in the community hall since the day of the fire and fundraising for the rebuild is underway.

How much that will cost is not yet known and the cause of the fire remains a mystery.

Vicar, the Rev Martin Green said: "The congregation is emerging from the initial shock of seeing the church destroyed and pulling together to come up with fundraising projects and plans to see it emerge from the rubble.

"The community has been very supportive as well - we have had lots of offers of practical and financial help and that reflects the value that people here place in the church.

"I would like to say a huge and humble thank you on behalf of the church to everyone for their support and encouragement."

Mr Green hopes the outside of the church will look similar to the orginal, but thinks there is scope for a different interior design.

He said: "I am waiting to see how much of the old building can be retained, but we don't know how much of that is re-usable until it's cleared.

"I'm hoping the outside will look similar to before but the inside will be different because it has been totally destroyed. It will not just be for the present community but for future generations."

The stained glass windows were blown out by the blaze, but one commissioned for the millennium can be replaced as its creators still have the designs and cuts to remake it.

The churchyard remains out of bounds as builders erect scaffolding, lay temporary flooring and raise a roof to protect the building from the elements.

A former stonemason, Raymond Pullin, 87, who carved two plaques of grapes and wheat either side of the entrance, visited the church on Wednesday for the first time since the fire.

He said: "It's very nostalgic coming here. My father and I carved a number of gravestones and other stonework.

"It's an absolute tragedy, but I hope it will rise again, phoenix-like."

Sunday services continue to be held at the community hall at 10am. Anyone wishing to donate money to the restoration fund should send it to the Rev Martin Green, 1 Manor Road, Bishops Itchington, Warwickshire, CV47 2QJ.

Enclose a SAE for an acknowledgement.

l See the church restoration video diary on the Courier website:

www.leamingtoncourier.co.uk