A DUDLEY church will undergo a £280,000 revamp after Easter.
Under the plans, the tower at St Edmund King and Martyr - fondly known as Bottom Church - will be repaired and a new kitchen and toilet will be installed.
The project was largely funded by The Heritage Lottery Fund but smaller grants have also come from The Wolfson Foundation and the Garfield Weston Foundation.
The church will be closed when work is under way, although Wednesday and Sunday services will continue as normal.
Church treasurer, Jon Harcourt, said: “We’re delighted that after a great deal of hard work, our lovely church will be restored to its former glory.
"It’s been on Heritage England’s ‘at risk register’ for some time due to the poor state of the tower roof, damaged stone work, brickwork, failed pointing and broken rainwater goods.
"This is a fantastic opportunity for repairs to be made and for the community to get involved in the church to help provide a place where the history of this part of Dudley can be enjoyed.”
Director of HLF West Midlands, Vanessa Harbar, added: “We have been delighted to support St Edmund King and Martyr to carry out urgent repairs and engage new audiences with this much-loved local landmark.
"Thank you to the National Lottery players who have made it possible.”
Alongside the building conservation work, the church is looking for volunteers to help create a new exhibition about the church's history and the specialist skills involved in repairing it, ready for Heritage Open Days in September.
Anyone who would like to get involved in the history project should contact the church via its website stedmundsdudley.wordpress.com/the-team.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here