A PASTOR’S prayers for water were answered after the church’s taps ran dry, just days before four baptisms were due to take place.

The Storehouse Christian Fellowship on Swindon Road in Stratton St Margaret noticed that their water pressure was getting lower while they were attempting to fill their baptismal pool on Wedneday.

After two-and-a-half hours of having the taps on full, the water level in the narrow pool had risen by just five and a quarter inches.

Realising that time was against them, pastor Dick Denyer called Thames Water to investigate, before they then found themselves without any water at all at the former Baptist church, which dates from the 1700s.

“It sounds really bad, like we haven’t paid the bill,” laughed Dick.

“Thames Water has been very good and they have been digging up the road outside to try and find the problem.”

Dick also received the promise of help from the parish’s firefighters who have offered the services of their fire engine to fill the pool to ensure that the baptisms can go ahead as planned on Sunday, along with the church’s popular Harvest Festival.

“It is absolutely brilliant to have such support, I am amazed at how we have been supported. I have been a pastor in various other places, but the community spirit here is absolutely amazing,” said Dick, who has called the church home since August of last year along with a 60 member-strong congregation.

“You don’t realise how having no water stumps you. Somebody came in and I asked if they would like a cup of tea, and then realised I couldn’t even offer them that because we have no water.

“The houses nearby all have water, so it just seems to be us that is affected.”