A YORK church, which is facing a bright future after selling off its hall to a housing association, has celebrated three important milestones.

Yesterday a cake, a cheque and a key were used to celebrate the future of St Clement's Church in Scarcroft Road, which announced the sale of its hall in Moss Street to Yorkshire Housing last year.

Yesterday the keys to the hall, which was built in 1932 and had suffered from arrears of maintenance and insufficient use to cover its costs, were officially handed over to Brian Clarke of Ryedale Housing Association, a member of Yorkshire Housing.

The £225,000 sale unlocks delayed plans for the development of St Clement's Church itself and the money will be used to create a new meeting space, including a modern kitchen and toilet facilities, and to repair the long-term decline of the building itself.

The cheque was handed by Mr Clarke to Priest-in-Charge, The Reverend Canon Michael Long, who also celebrated his 70th birthday yesterday.

Canon Long, a Canon of York Minster since 1997, said: "Our sadness at saying farewell to our hall is tempered both by knowing that the money raised unlocks St Clement's future, and by the fact that Yorkshire Housing will be putting it to such good use."

Joe Bvumburai, development manager of Yorkshire Housing, said: "The acquisition of St Clement's Church Hall by Yorkshire Housing will make it possible to provide high quality and much-needed affordable homes to the people of York at a time when such opportunities are difficult to come by, particularly in desirable areas."

Updated: 08:44 Monday, May 27, 2002