Determined villagers are refusing to let their church go without a fight.

People living in Charmouth are ‘more determined than ever’ to repair St Andrew’s Church despite having been dealt the ‘huge disappointment’ of having had an application for funding turned down by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

Early last year, St Andrew’s was awarded a grant of £370,000 by the Erskine Muton Trust, an organisation which makes grants available for Anglican church buildings in Dorset.

However, the poor state of the building means more money is needed to complete the project. It had been hoped this would come from lottery funds, but after considering three separate applications over the past two years, the HLF has rejected the bid.

The campaign to save the church in Charmouth is led by Rev’d Stephen Skinner, team rector of the Golden Cap parishes, and a group of volunteers known as the Changing Spaces team.

Their ideas are not just to secure the building as a place of worship, but to provide a space for the whole community; already the church hosts regular concerts, exhibitions, free exchange cafés and a range of social events.

The repairs planned include weatherproofing the entire building, redecorating the interior, removing pews, new underfloor heating, relaying the stone floor, providing new seating and upgrading the kitchen.

There are plans to re-landscape the churchyard and establish a heritage trail.

Without lottery support some items may have to be deferred, but funds from Erskine Muton are still available and a revised plan will be presented to the Trust.

A search for other sources of funding is underway.

Changing Spaces say there remains a ‘keen determination’ by everyone involved that the project is given renewed energy to allow St Andrew’s to have a role in the Charmouth community, with its future secure, for many years to come.

To offer support, either financially or as a volunteer, contact Rev’d Skinner on 01297 443763.