MORE than 50 people gathered in St Lawrence Church in Alton to hear about Jane Austen and support the important work of the local Anna Chaplaincy.

Sue and Martyn Dell are closely involved at Jane Austen’s House Museum in Chawton as volunteers and worship regularly at St Lawrence Church. In their illustrated talk, they described how Jane’s fame spread worldwide and how the bicentenary of her death has been commemorated this year.

Altogether, £570 was raised from the evening in support of the Anna Chaplaincy, which is supported by the Greater Alton Project. The chaplaincy undertakes vital work in promoting the spiritual well-being of older people in Alton.