A CONGREGATION in Wickwar is appealing for help to carry out essential works on the popular village church.

The entire heating system at Holy Trinity needs repairing and, although the exact amount required is not yet know, £7,500 is already in hand. The Friends of Wickwar Church have raised the money through a variety of events during the past year.

However, church-goers and the parochial church council's heating committee are running out of ideas and people to ask.

Committee member Colin Baker said: "Holy Trinity Church is one of the oldest buildings in the town. In fact, it is medieval. It is a public amenity where we hold concerts, music recitals, plays, marriages, christenings and funerals.

"We are trying to apply to grant organisations but have found we are caught between a rock and a hard place as the church is a grade II listed building and that has caused some problems. Some organisations will not finance anything religious and some exclude heating works."

The committee is still waiting to hear back from the National Lottery and English Heritage but does not feel optimistic.

Added Mr Baker: "We are hitting brick walls at the moment and are not sure how things are going to pan out so we are appealing to the parish council to put its hand in pocket."

At the council's annual meeting last week members agreed to look into the matter.

The issue will appear on the council's agenda next month but in the meantime chairman Cllr Martin Summers has said that his own church in Wotton-under-Edge raised close to £250,000 through various events. Mr Summers promised to pass on information and contacts to fundraisers in Wickwar.

Anyone interested in helping the church in anyway should contact the Rev David Russell on 01454 294267.