TWO East Lancashire churches are set to receive over £200,000 to pay for much-needed repairs as part of a nationwide scheme.

St Mary’s Church in Balderstone will receive £149,000 and St John the Evangelist, in Accrington, will receive £67,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and English Heritage (EH), it was announced today.

The grants are part of a scheme worth £6.87 million to pay for repairs to Grade II listed places of worship and chapels across the country.

In April 2007, St John the Evangelist, was closed after a report found it required £20,000 to rewire the church and another £200,000 for essential repairs to the roof, walls and spire.

Through donations and a variety of fundraising events, they were able to raise £35,000 but the latest grant, which is specifically for repairs to the gutters, roof and spire, will strengthen their chances of staying open.

Church warden Andy Shepherd said he was overjoyed to receive the money.

He said: “We appealed for the grant in September last year and knew we had got it in March. We’re very grateful for it and have been looking forward to it for a long time. We applied for it for the last two years and missed out twice for whatever reason, but we’re pleased we can now finally move into the final stage of repairs.”

Work is expected to take place in the summer of 2009 and the church council is also examining plans to make alterations to the inside of the building.

St Mary’s Church is to use the £149,000 to pay for repairs to the spire.

English Heritage’s North West regional director Henry Owen-John said: “England’s churches and chapels are the spiritual, communal and architectural backbone of our villages, towns and cities.

“We hope our contribution will allow them to remain in use by the communities that enjoy them.”

Head of Heritage Lottery Fund in the North West, Sara Hilton, added: “People care passionately about their local places of worship, which are often a focus for the whole community as landmarks and buildings where groups come together to worship or mark key moments in their lives.

“The HLF and EH are helping to secure their future by concentrating on the most urgent repair needs, making a difference to their long-term survival.”