A MEDIEVAL gem to be restored thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

For the first time since 1881, St John’s Church in Salton is to undergo extensive work on roofs and drainage thanks to a donation of £130,000.

The church, which is a near perfect example of Norman architecture, has played an important role in the local history, including being ravaged by the Scots in the 12th century and is now is visited by people from all over the world.

Churchwarden Jill Hopkins said: “From the outside you’d probably not be aware of the problems with the church’s fabric, but in wet weather buckets are needed to collect water coming through the chancel roof.”

The five yearly examination of the structure by Architect Andrew Wiles revealed rotting timbers and rising damp, and his worst fears were highlighted by the closer inspection of the structures as part of the development phase of the HLF grant.

Fellow churchwarden Mary Tate said: “Salton Church is used not only for services, but its superb acoustics make it a great venue for choirs and concerts, but there has been a downside.

“The increasing damp causing a green bloom on the stonework, and a constantly wet aisle carpet have caused an increasingly unpleasant dank feel - not good for any venue.”

The church was recently one of the 18 Yorkshire Norman Churches to take part in the Church Explorers Weekend organised by Yorvik, and it is also on a “cycle route”.

Petrea Bessant, secretary of the Parochial Parish Council (PCC), said they were delighted to have been awarded the grant by HLF and are working on ways to bring in more of the wider community for events.

She said: “The PCC has pressed on with this essential restoration work despite not having a vicar.

“We saw it as crucial to start as soon as possible, to preserve this unique bit of our history and we hope that when a vicar is appointed for our parish and benefice, their desk and chair will be dry.

“Because of the magnitude of the work required it is possible that completion may not be possible without further costs, so inevitably fund raising continues.”

It is hoped that when investigative work is completed, the restoration work will begin in 2018, working around the period when bats are breeding.