The community in St Florence has launched an appeal to help save the village church from closing.

The historic Grade II listed building has been helped in the past through projects, but is in desperate need of help again, with the church tower and roof needing repair work, as water is pouring into the the premises, the floors are rotting, and the bells are in danger of being unable to be rung!

Church members are delighted to have secured a grant for £115,100, but in order to access this, St Florence village community needs to contribute a further £14,326 by September this year.

“We thank St. Florence village for their help towards projects in the past, but this historic building is in desperate need of help again,” said campaigner Harry Evans.

“The church is at risk of being closed if we are not able to raise funds towards the urgent repair to the tower.

“Part of this project is also to make the church more accessible, as well as making repairs to the tower.

“We are going to make a community area with tables and chairs at the base of our tower. The beauty of this is if we have an event we can just move then to the side and be left with a large functioning space to run playgroups, fundraisers, concerts, meetings etc.

“The area will also be used as a place where people can come and have a drink and enjoy the historic building with their friends,” he continued.

“A condition of the grant is to demonstrate that the church is important to the life of the whole community, not just church members.

“If this money is not raised, the grant will not be forthcoming and the church will close because the building will become dangerous.

“There will be no services, christenings, weddings or funerals - just an unkept church and graveyard!

“However, if we raise this money, we stand a good chance of having the church restored.

“St. Florence has a population of 700 people; if we all contribute whatever we can, we really can reach our goal,” added Harry, who said that they were also appealing for people to come forward to give their time, to join the committee to help run the grant project.

Anyone who wishes to help can donate at the group’s JustGiving page at: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/stflorencechurch

For further information, you can view the ‘St Florence Church’ Facebook page or the church noticeboard.