A HISTORICAL church in need of £200,000 for repairs has received a donation from the former High Bailiff of Alcester Court Leet.

Steven Brown donated £1,200 from the High Bailiff’s fund to St Nicholas’ Church to help with the costs following a compulsory inspection of the building.

An architect found that stonework on all four external walls and its tower are in need of restoration.

On Saturday, October, 25, Mr Brown handed over a cheque to the Rector of Alcester Minster, Adrian Guthrie.

The donation came from the £8,500 the court leet raised this year and is the largest amount they have given out to one cause.

The work has to be carried out by specialist stonemasons and it is estimated that the repairs will exceed £200,000.

A committee chaired by Mike Newey, which Mr Brown has been invited to join, has been formed to organise fundraising and coordinate the repairs.

Mr Brown said: "This is a drop in the ocean and we will need the ongoing support of the Alcester community, businesses and the local press in order to achieve the target.

“St Nicholas Church is not just a place of worship but a beautiful iconic building at the heart of the town with a wonderful garden complete with its sensory area.”

Reverend Adrian Guthrie, the rector of Alcester Minster, said: “It is a fantastic gift and we know it represents all the hard work that the court leet have done throughout the year.

“We are very positive and very grateful.”

He also added that although the prospect of raising the money was daunting similar large scale projects had received a lot of support from the town’s people in the past.

A further £2,500 has been raised for the church through a fashion show and a garden party.