A VILLAGE has helped to raise over £58,000 to carry out vital repair work to a 180-year-old church.

Parishioners at St John the Evangelist in Worsthorne, Burnley, launched an urgent appeal in May to raise money for the work.

They were told that the roof of the church needed repairing and would not last another winter, while work was also needed on the church tower and the internal central heating system.

In all the work was to cost around £108,000, but the church has around £50,000 in reserve to pay for some of the cost.

Rev Keith Henshall, the vicar at the church, hailed the villagers efforts to raise the money as “amazing”.

He said: “Thanks to the generosity of a lot of people and the hard work of fundraisers we have reached the target.

“It will allow us to complete all the work which is fantastic.”

Money was also raised from grants from charities and from legacies inherited from local people.

The first phase of the work, to repair the crumbling roof, started in August and was completed last month.

Work on the tower and the central heating system will begin in January.

Rev Henshall said: “A lot of people had done something to raise money, by making a donation, baking cakes, having sponsored silences or walks, holding barbecues and garden parties.

“It’s been an amazing response from the community, the church building is now safe and secure.

“The church is at the centre of the village and this shows a lot of people want it there, whether they go or not.

“People have a lot of memories from the church of weddings and funerals.”

The fundraising is not stopping now the target has been reached though.

Rev Henshall said: “We have to replenish the reserves again now.

“We might not need as much as we had but we do need some reserves and the funds are empty at the moment.”