A CHURCH, one of the oldest of its type in the country, has received a boost of £10,000.

Malton Methodist Church has been awarded the grant by the National Churches Trust to help fund urgent roof repairs.

The repair work is part of a larger plan of improvements, which will turn the currently-closed church into an open community venue, as well as a place of worship.

The church’s spokesman Paul Emberley said: “This is a very welcome grant towards the cost of the roof repair, and we’re hugely grateful to the National Churches Trust.

“Repairing the roof is our first priority, as we seek approval to make significant changes to our historic building, re-purposing it as an important concert venue, a meeting place open every day for all the community to use, and as a place of worship.

“We’ve made good progress towards this aim in recent weeks.”

The grade II listed church, designed around the square auditory format by the itinerant Methodist minister and architect William Jenkins opened in 1811.

It is one of the oldest Methodist chapels in the country and has been carefully preserved and maintained by eight generations of Methodists for more than 200 years.

Nationwide, a total of 41 churches and chapels will benefit from a grants package totalling £247,205 from the National Churches Trust.