Parish priest Father Colin Johnson was taking no chances when he turned up to preach. He took along a hot water bottle.

As temperatures plunged below zero on one of the coldest days of the winter so far, villagers shivered in the pews at All Saints Church, Eastchurch, while churchwardens battled to replace a broken boiler.

The machine went on the blink after Christmas, cutting all heating to the 15th century church. Wardens quickly secured a £5,100 quote to replace it.

But the Canterbury diocese is insisting on an architectural survey before giving permission.

Engineers want to drill a two-inch vent hole through a stone wall in the kitchen of the listed building which dates from 1432.

Fr Johnson, 70, who shares services with Fr Gerry Arbor, held Sunday’s mass with help from the strategically placed hot water bottle as worshippers huddled in blankets, gloves and woolly hats.

Fr Johnson said: “Gerry was here last week and warned me it was pretty cold so I came prepared. The main problem is the lack of a working boiler. I gather there is problem installing it.

“The church authorities are understandably concerned we might be drilling holes all over the place.”

He admitted he radically trimmed back part of his sermon because of the bitter cold.

At a packed christening for six-month-old Henry Turner-Evans later, staff filled the baptism font with warm water.

Church organist Sylvia Baker, dressed in duffle coat and wearing mittens, struggled to accompany the congregation.

She said: “It’s always draughty in this church but this is the coldest I’ve ever known it. I have a little heater at my feet but it’s not making much difference.”

Churchwarden Yvonne Dyer said: “It is desperately annoying. But all we can do now is pray.”