£250k boost for charity's Hudswell church transformation plans

A community archaeological dig took place on land next to the church last summer

Efforts to turn a former church in North Yorkshire into a hostel have been given a major cash boost, leaving a charity just short of its £1m target.

Saint Michael and All Angels, in Hudswell, near Richmond, closed to worshippers in 2017.

A £250,000 government grant means Hudswell Community Charity now has £950,000 towards transforming it into accommodation for walkers and cyclists.

The money meant the work could begin early next year, the charity said.

Charity trustee Martin Booth said: "This money almost gets us there. We're delighted."

The trustees of the charity want to convert the church into an 18-bed hostel

Mr Booth said his heart "started to beat fast" when he received confirmation of the award from the Community Ownership Fund (COF).

The COF is intended to help local groups buy "institutions that have fallen into disrepair".

Mr Booth said the charity had "applied for it twice before and failed".

A "main driver" of the transformation was to retain the existing building in its original condition, with plans to turn the old pews into bunk beds, he added.

"It's not a money-making scheme. The church will remain the same from outside and as much as possible inside.

"We want to retain the building for future generations to enjoy," he said.

COF funding of £250 will help to turn The Plough into an all-day cafe and pub for the community

Meanwhile, another community group in North Yorkshire has been awarded almost £300,000 in COF funding to buy and renovate a pub.

The 300-year-old Plough Inn at Fadmoor, near Kirkbymoorside, shut its doors in 2011.

Fadmoor Community Pub Limited was awarded £297,120 to turn the venue into an all-day cafe and pub for the community.

The project was also set to provide social events and local services for residents, the group said.