A much-loved Somerset church is to share in a £421,000 urgent funding pay-out from the National Churches Trust.

A £3,000 National Churches Trust Gateway Grant will help to pay for urgent repairs to the nave roof, re-leading and timber repairs at the ancient and historic Grade I Listed church of All Saints' in East Pennard.

The church also receives a £6,510 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant from the Wolfson Foundation on the recommendation of the National Churches Trust to help pay for the work.

Broadcaster and journalist Huw Edwards, Vice President of the National Churches Trust, said: "I'm delighted that All Saints' is receiving a Christmas funding boost for roof repairs.

"This will safeguard unique local heritage and keep the church open and in use for the benefit of local people. Whether seeking quiet reflection, access to community services or as a place to worship, the National Churches Trust helps hundreds of churches each year and with the support of local people, keeps them thriving today and tomorrow."

Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation said: "As well as being places of worship and buildings of beauty, churches sit at the heart of the community.

"In many ways they stand between the past and present. We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the National Churches Trust to support the preservation of these significant, much-loved historic buildings across the UK."

49 churches across the UK will stay open and in good repair thanks to £421,000 of funding awarded by the National Churches Trust in this latest round of grants.

In 2022, the National Churches Trust has made over 200 grants to churches throughout the United Kingdom with funding totalling more than £1.6m.

This year, the funding also helped to remove 18 churches from the Historic England Heritage at Risk register. The church 14th Century East Pennard church is on the site of an earlier 9th century church, and originally a Minster church for Glastonbury Abbey.

It has a fine selection of 18th century farming family box pews and its lectern is attributed to Grinling Gibbons. The church also has a remarkable medieval Doom painting; the font is 10th century and the organ loft is fronted by a medieval pew end possibly by the Master Carver Simon Warman.

Its tower hosts the heaviest known set of five bells dating back to 1650 and a local villager made the working church clock in 1788.

The project will carry out urgent repairs to the lead roof, which is reaching the end of its useful life.

The £3,000 Gateway Grant and the £6,510 Wolfson Fabric Repair Grant will facilitate repairs to the nave roof, re-leading and timber repairs.

Jean Heal, churchwarden and PCC fundraiser, said: "This grant is most welcome because it provides the final essential funding which will enable the reroofing project to go ahead. The work is now booked to commence in March of 2023 and the PCC look forward to celebrating the Coronation with a brand new lead roof."