ONE of Keighley district's smaller churches has received a major grant to help pay for urgently required repairs.

Stanbury's St Gabriel's Church has been awarded £33,800 to fix its roof.

The church successfully applied for the grant through the Government-funded Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund.

It was discovered two years ago that St Gabriel’s roof was in serious need of attention.

Church custodians worked out that the remedial works were likely to cost about £56,880.

Parishioners immediately started a fundraising programme aimed at stopping the rot, and making the 168-year-old Grade II listed church weather-proof once again.

Through their own efforts, the congregation and their supporters managed to raise £10,000.

By receiving the Listed Places of Worship Fund grant, they are now within reach of being able to undertake the vital repairs.

The Rev Peter Mayo-Smith, rector of the Church of England’s Parish of Haworth, in which Stanbury Church is situated, said: “We are really grateful to the Listed Places of Worship Fund for their grant.

“Stanbury Church is vital to the village, as it is their only community building. It not only serves as their church but houses events such as parish council meetings, dog shows, local group meetings and other events.

“Although Stanbury is only a small village, the congregation is a vibrant body of people, who work hard for their church and the community. By repairing the roof, it will enable this work to continue for years to come."

Stanbury Church, which was initially built as a Sunday School, was opened in 1848 and meant to accommodate a maximum of about 80 worshippers. Although the scheme to build the church was initiated by Rev Patrick Brontë – father of the world famous literary sisters Charlotte, Anne and Emily – the construction of the building was overseen by his curate, the Rev Arthur Bell-Nicholls, who subsequently married Charlotte.

The church hosted its first wedding in 2014.

Mr Mayo-Smith added: “We’re now confident the rest of the finance needed to complete the Stanbury Church roof repairs can be sourced and the repairs undertaken very quickly.”

The money for Stanbury is part of a wider funding package of £22.9 million for 401 historic places of worship across the UK.

The fund was launched by the then chancellor in his autumn statement in December 2014, and the funding package has seen a total of 903 places of worship across the UK receive a share of £55 million.