A £400,000 church building project has hit a hiccup with the unexpected discovery of three 500-year-old vaults beneath the floor containing human remains.
Work to demolish the Victorian organ at St Michael's in Betchworth – clearing the way for a new vestry and toilets – has slowed after contractors made the discovery earlier this month.
Rector Carol Coslett said a subterranean void was found as builders prepared to level the floor to improve access to the high altar.
She told the Mirror: "The builders had to take off a layer of tiled floor first and underneath they realised it was hollow, a big void.
"It was a surprise for them to find a vault under there – they thought there might be remains but not a whole hollow vault.
"They will level the top of the vaults and fill it up to make it solid in some way. I hope it won't be a lot more expensive but I haven't seen any figures yet."
An archaeological assessment is now taking place to determine the age of the remains, although plaques suggest they may date from as far back as 1518.
Mrs Coslett explained that other plaques which had been moved from the vaults onto the wall during Victorian alterations indicated some of the bones probably belonged to members of the Wight family, which owned the manor of Brockham during the 17th and 18th centuries.
She said: "I hope the project won't be delayed by too many weeks, maybe just a couple. They are still working on the other part of the floor while the remains are being looked at, and getting on with other stuff. We've had to rejig things.
"That area of the church is cordoned off with a mauve curtain but it was always going to be. It looks like an archaeological dig in there.
"I expect in a few weeks' time I'll do a reburial of the bones and they will cover them over again."
She added: "The builders started on site at the beginning of June and the messy stuff is supposed to finish at the end of August.
"There are other bits and pieces scheduled for September, before the new organ goes in, in November. Hopefully everything will be finished by then."
The remains, some contained in lead coffins, will be reburied in the same area of the building.
