Locals 'thrilled' by £66k grant for church spire

Campaigners fighting to save a historic Cornwall church spire are celebrating after winning a £66,000 grant.

The 90ft (27m) spire at St Gerrans Church on the Roseland Peninsula is in a bad state and there have been concerns it could collapse.

A fundraising campaign was started to save the landmark, which was added to the existing church tower in the 15th or early 16th Century to provide sailors and fishermen with a daymark. It is visible for miles and is still featured on admiralty charts as a navigation aid.

The award of £66,427 from the National Lottery Heritage Fund means building work can begin in autumn. Chair of the fundraising committee, James Leggate, said everyone was "thrilled".

Residents packed a public meeting held to organise fundraising ideas

St Gerrans Church is a focal point and connection between the two villages of Gerrans and Portscatho, but the state of the spire has caused concern for years.

The stone exterior is so badly eroded water has to be collected in buckets whenever it rains, and there are concerns about the wooden framework that holds up the whole edifice.

Once the state of the building became clear, a Save Our Spire fundraising campaign was started.

After a packed public meeting to discuss ideas, the money started rolling in, but Mr Leggate said they still needed the grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to reach their target.

"We were never sure of getting the lottery funding but I have to say they've turned up trumps so we feel that we can celebrate now," he said.

"Everyone is thrilled, to me personally it's an iconic spire, I'm a sailor, we've all used the spire for sailing navigation points of view.

"It's also personal to me because I've worshipped here for more than 30 years."

He added: "Everyone in the village, whether they have a faith, or no faith, or a particular faith that isn't the Church of England, it doesn't matter to them, we're all keen to get this repaired and preserved for the next generation and beyond."

The plan is to use local firms for the job, and work to begin erecting scaffolding could start as early as September, with the restoration and repair work commencing in mid-October.