A Norfolk village is celebrating today after more than £200,000 has been awarded to secure the future of its 14th century church.
The money will also help All Saints Church, in Wood Norton, near Fakenham, to develop as a community hub.
It will feature a permanent exhibition on the village's history, including information about people from Wood Norton who served in the First World War.
The church has been granted £193,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £15,000 from North Norfolk District Council's Big Society Fund.
The funding comes after two years of hard work and planning from the church's parochial church council.
The Rev Sally Kimmis said: 'We are absolutely thrilled. This work is urgent and if our bid had been unsuccessful I don't know what would have happened.'
The money will pay for re-tiling of the chancel, nave and vestry roofs, repairing the parapets and east chancel and east nave gables, re-leading the east chancel window, overhauling the south nave and south chancel rainwater goods and carrying out repairs to the tower.
The church is renowned for its six perpendicular windows of its nave, which have been architecturally unspoilt by 19th century conservation work as well as its unusual tower with honeycomb-style windows.
Jenny Marchant, secretary of the PCC, said: 'This church stands out for the way everything is unusually in its original condition. All of the restoration work will be carefully designed to fit in with original style of the church and preserve that aspect.'
Other works to be carried out include upgrading of the heating system, installation of a kitchen, toilets and a new video projection system and sound system, to help the church accommodate the hard of hearing.
The church will host part of Wood Norton's new Up the Garden Path horticultural festival, on July 3, which will raise money for East Anglia's Children's Hospices.
It will look to hold concerts, talks and various other community events.
The work is due to begin in September and take 20 weeks to complete. A further £15,000 is needed.
To find donate, call 01362 680148 or e mail sally.kimmis@live.co.uk.
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