FIVE years of intensive fundraising by villagers in Crambe to save their ancient church reaches its climax on Friday night when the Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, carries out a re-dedication ceremony.

Grants by various organisations, including English Heritage, Church Commissioners, Yorkshire Historic Churches Trust and the York Diocese, has boosted the thousands of pounds raised by the village to enable the £100,000 scheme to restore St Michael’s Church to be completed.

The work on the 1,000-year-old church has included re-roofing the building, pointing, renovating the ceiling and restoring the gulleys and drainage system, said Fiona Le Masurier, the church council secretary.

“It has been a wonderful achievement, especially as we are such a small village,” she said. “Everyone has worked so hard, running events, making donations and seeking grants.

“Crambe is a very small community, but one which has battled doggedly to raise money without losing heart, despite the ever-escalating costs.

“After turning down our grant application twice, English Heritage finally came to the rescue and gave us sufficient funding to enable the work to go ahead.

“Raising the money was only one of the difficulties that had to be dealt with. The most trying of all was caused by the presence of bats.

“The bats’ requirements were very precise which resulted in the project grinding to a halt for six months.

However, the problem was resolved and the bats now have Grade I-listed building accommodation.”

Mrs Le Masurier said: “We are indebted to all the organisations which have made grants, and also to the teams of enthusiastic and dedicated local craftsmen.”

The village will pack the candlelit church, where Mrs Le Masurier is also the organist, when the Archbishop will preach the sermon and there will be a solo anthem sung by Rebecca Widdicombe, a former head girl chorister at York Minster.

The Archbishop and other clergy will proceed to the church from Mrs Le Masurier’s home, Crambe House, and after the service there will be a reception at Kyreham House next door to St Michael’s.