A WEST Huntspill Church has been awarded £15,000 to help fund essential repairs to its roof.

St Peter and All Hallows Church in West Huntspill is among a number of organisations which are receiving funding from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

The money will be used to make essential repairs to the roof of the main church to stop water seeping through causing damage to both the roof timbers and interior of the church.

The funding comes as a major project to restore the tower and reorder the inside of the west end of the church is about to get underway.

This grant will waterproof the main church while this takes place buying us time before we need to embark on more major work on the roof.

David Lemon, church warden at St Peter and All Hallows Church, said: “We are delighted to receive this funding from the Culture Recovery Fund.

“This will buy us time while the major repairs and reordering takes place to the Tower, making the main part of the church waterproof, protecting not just the wooden roof structure, but the inside of the Church.”

A church has stood on the St Peter and All Hallows Church site since 1194, with the Grade 1 listed building dating back to around 1400.

Extensions were made in the mid 15 Century. It has been a centre of the community since then, surviving the Tsunami of 1607 and a major fire of 1878. The church has been referred to as one of the finest country churches in Somerset.

Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said: “These grants will help the places that have shaped our skylines for hundreds of years and that continue to define culture in our towns and cities. We’re protecting heritage and culture in every corner of the country to save jobs and ensure it’s there for future generations to enjoy.”

Duncan Wilson, Historic England Chief Executive said: “Historic places across the country are being supported by the Government’s grants awarded under the Culture Recovery Fund. This funding is a lifeline which is kick-starting essential repairs and maintenance at many of our most precious historic sites, so they can begin to recover from the damaging effects of COVID-19.

“It is also providing employment for skilled craft workers who help keep historic places alive and the wheels of the heritage sector turning. Our shared heritage is an anchor for us all in these challenging times and this funding will help to ensure it remains part of our collective future.”