AN HISTORIC church in a village near Selby has been awarded thousands of pounds of funding for maintenance and repairs.

Wistow All Saints’ Church has been given support from the Heritage Lottery Fund to carry out structural repairs to the stonework, the roof and its windows, and to investigate possible subsidence.

The church has been given £8,760 so far and they hope to receive a grant of £57,000 in due course.

Work to be carried out will include improvements to the South Porch doorway and pointing, repairs to the chancel roof guttering which is no longer fit for purpose, and repair of the west door, but the appeal organisers hope the funding will also allow further conservation and improvements to the church’s Conacher Organ, as well as improvements to the church’s heating and lighting.

Robin Poskitt, a trustee of Wistow All Saints Heritage Appeal, said: “We’re delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this support. The church has given the village a place for worship, education and entertainment for the past 800 years and it’s great to know that we are a step closer to preserving it for another century of use in our community.”

Fiona Spiers, from the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: “Places of worship are among the UK’s most historic buildings, with fascinating stories behind them. This money will pay for urgent repairs, whilst also helping to tell the story of All Saints’ Church to visitors.

“As a result the building itself will be more used by the whole community, and properly cared for into the future.”

So far, development funding of £8,760 has been awarded to help the trustees of the church Heritage Appeal to progress their plans and apply for a full grant at a later date. Work is hoped to start as soon as surveys are complete.

Local residents who want to help in any way, including taking part in tours of the church, should contact Robin Poskitt on 01757 268268 or email webmaster@wistow-village.com