A BARROW Gurney church is in need of repairs and leaders are appealing to villagers to help restore the building.

The Church of St Mary and St Edward needs some redecorating, the organ needs a service and the sound system has recently broken.

Church members have sent leaflets out to members of the local community to appeal for donations to help repair the historic building and preserve it for future generations.

Church warden Richard Burningham said: “We had some heating installed recently which has depleted our reserves.

“We are aiming to raise some extra money to build up our reserves so we can get various jobs done around the church.

“We’ve got some damp in the knave, part of the church needs redecorating, the organ needs a fairly good overhaul and our sound system just packed up.

“The church is an important part of our heritage and we need a regular income to keep it in a good state of repair.”

The church in Barrow Court Lane is a focal point for local weddings, funerals and baptisms.

A nunnery used to stand on the site in the 13th century, but a church was later built on the plot.

The last major restoration was carried out between 1888 and 1892 when it was rebuilt at a cost of £12,000 - the equivalent of £5million today.

Reverend Ann Sargent is the rector at St Mary and St Edward as well as Church of England congregations in Flax Bourton and Long Ashton.