AN UNDER-THREAT Washburn Valley church has received a £14,800 cash boost.

Fewston with Blubberhouses Parochial Church Council (PCC) warned last year that St Andrew’s, at Blubberhouses, was at risk of closure due to rising maintenance costs and a dwindling congregation.

A new grant from the Government’s Listed Places of Worship Roof Repair Fund, though, should help with at least one of those problems.

Fewston with Blubberhouses PCC’s honorary secretary, Pat Anderson, said: “This money is to address urgent roof repairs that will ensure the church is weathertight, safe and open for use.”

The award is one of 502 grants from a total funding package of £30 million that were announced for urgent roof repairs for places of worship across the UK by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

The fund is run by the National Heritage Memorial Fund on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

St Andrew’s was designed and built in 1856 by the renowned architect Edward Buckton Lamb.