Truly amazing. That’s how generous Observer readers were described this week after boosting the Aspire fund to over £20,000.

More donations total-ling a whopping £5,728 came flooding in – taking the exact total this week to £20,223.

And, former St John’s vicar, the Rev Margaret Tremeer illustrated how she has never forgotten the church where she served for three months in 2004.

When she heard about the campaign to save the Accrington Pals chapel, she sent a bumper £5,000 cheque towards the fund.

She fell in love with St John’s during her time in Accrington when she provided cover for the Rev Ian Robertson while he was away on a three-month sabbatical to Tanzania.

Mrs Tremeer, was born in London but spent 23 years living in Johannes-burg. She had never been to Accrington before – but admits to falling in love with the place and its people.

After returning to South Africa, she kept in regular touch with many of her former parishioners and has made several more visits to the town over the years.

So she was horrified when she heard of plans to close St John’s down.

But many of her friends sent her information about our appeal to keep the church and its famous Accrington Pals Chapel open – and she vowed to do something to help it.

She said: "I heard they wanted £50,000 to keep the church open and I knew I just had to do something.

"The church should never have closed in the first place and I am sure it will open again. It’s ridiculous that this is happening.

"Accrington is the loveliest place in the world and the people are the loveliest people – the town needs the church. St John’s is a landmark as whenever I come into the area by train I always look out for it.

"And of course the Pals are part of its identity and I remember listening to a history CD in 2004 telling me about their story."

Mrs Tremeer, has two children Lynn, 38 and Grant, 35 and originally trained as a teacher before qualifying as a vicar in 1994.

She first met the Rev Robertson in the early 1980s at a church meeting in Zimbabwe.

He wrote to her in 2003 asking if she would like to cover for him during his sabbatical and she jumped at the chance.

l Donations from St John’s Church this week total £300.

Donations which came in to the Observer office this week included: Rev Margaret Tremeer £5,000; Asda £418.75; £10 anon.

* On Thursday 24 January a Burns Night has been organised at Willow Mount WMC, Accrington, to raise cash for Aspire. For tickets priced at £2.50 call Ken on 390453, Eddie on 394019 or Gill on 07510734382.