CHURCHGOERS are hoping grants can replace a 60-year-old boiler that is barely clinging on to power.

The parish of St. Anne with St. James in Chapeltown is working alongside community interest company Proffitts in a bid to raise much-needed funds for restoration work for the grade II listed building.

A key priority is replacing the 60-year-old boiler and heating system, parts for which are becoming harder and harder to source.

Plans also include renovation of the mechanisms of the church clock, repairs to the covering of the lych-gates which is suffering from rot, and also repairs to some of the window frames .

Rev Canon Peter Reiss, team rector, said: “The clock is a very visual part of St. Anne’s - it can be seen for a long way around and our stained-glass windows are much-loved too.

“We are also rare in having two lych-gates into the churchyard. These are all key parts of history that need to be protected and restored before they get to the stage where they become beyond repair. The church has served our community for centuries and we want the building to continue to be there for the community for the next generations.”

But Mr Reiss said the boiler was "the big ticket item" - an essential part of the church and integral to services during winter months. The boiler will cost up to £45,000 to be replaced, which Profitts is aiming to do.

The venture, which helps with bids for investment in communities, will work alongside the church in applying for appropriate funding.

Mr Reiss said: “No-one knows exactly how old it is. We have got a very good engineer who has looked after it but even finding new parts for it are becoming a struggle, so he has had to cobble together what he can find.

“When it packs in, it will be pretty much done for. Without heating you can’t do much after October really. We have a lot of elderly people and there’s no double glazing in church, as well as the fact we are quite high up in Edgworth. If it is not warm, we can’t do anything.”

Mr Reiss said the congregation had been generous through lockdown, but funding is desperately needed for the continuation of services.

Consultations are taking place so church users can confirm which tasks should be tackled first and also suggest new ways for the church to be used. If you’d like to share your thoughts, then you can contact the parish directly on turtonteamrector@gmail.com