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Westbury Parish Church roof project co-ordinators Caroline Dunseath and John Prince

A CHURCH is calling for the community's help as it aims to reach a £240,000 target to pay for much-needed restoration work.

A survey of Westbury Parish Church in Church Lane, in 2004 identified repairs were needed to the tower masonry, roof and upper windows, which at the time was estimated to cost upwards of £200,000.

The church received a grant from English Heritage for £128,000 but they still needed to raise a further £100,000.

So the church launched their 1,000 good and true campaign, which sought 1,000 people to donate £20 a year for five years to raise the £100,000 they needed, but they are still £5,000 short of their target.

Churchwarden and organiser of the restoration appeal Caroline Dunseath, 64, from Alfred Street, Westbury, said: "The campaign has been fairly successful. A lot of people paid £100 up front, which was really helpful.

"The work is all done on the roof, which eventually cost £240,000 in total, but we still need to find £5,000 more.

"We understand that a lot of people in Westbury haven't got a great deal of money so we felt if we asked for £20 over five years that isn't too daunting.

"People can gift aid their donations too so we can raise more money.

"With a church like this there are always things that need doing. The windows need more maintenance because a lot of the grills have rusted so I'm trying to get the money for new grills and I am replacing the worst ones first.

"On a Sunday service there can be between 80 to 100 people in the church. We also have a service on a Wednesday as well as numerous baptisms, marriages and unfortunately funerals, so the church is in constant use.

"It's a beautiful church and it is always full with lots of lovely people."

John Prince, 64, who is the parish administrator and parochial church council treasurer, said: "We couldn't have done all the restoration work without the English Heritage grant.

"There were a lot of people that helped out. I helped to collect the money and made sure we had enough funds to cover the bills."

Mr Prince has been going to the church for more than 30 years and has been the administrator for 14 years.

All Saints Parish Church has stood in the heart of the town for 600 years.

Four churches share the building - All Saints Westbury, Holy Saviour Westbury Leigh, Holy Trinity Dilton Marsh and All Saints Brokerswood.

2:42pm Friday 9th May 2008

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