CHURCHGOERS from a Crewe village have launched a campaign to try and save their place of worship.

St Michael's and All Angels Church in Crewe Green, which is soon to be 150 years old, desperately needs work completing to keep sections of the church from collapse.

The church and its parishioners need to find £25,000 as soon as possible so that the work can be carried out.

The majority of the money is needed to fight off the invasion of damp at the church through a programme of re-pointing brickwork and replacing guttering.

The bellcote which houses the bell also needs replacing after it collapsed during a ringing practice causing the bell itself to fall slightly down the tower.

Around £3,000 is also needed to save the beautiful stained glass windows in the church, after architects found the leading was brittle and crumbling.

The church was designed by Sir Gilbert Scott, who also designed Liverpool Cathedral, and was built in 1856.

Church warden, Ken Chapman and treasurer, Geoff Pritchard, are heading up the campaign to raise the funds.

"Although the church is still well used and has been well maintained, time has not only caught up with us, but it has overtaken us somewhat," explained Mr Pritchard.

Around £1,000 has already been raised with the generous help of nearby residents and it is now hoped that the campaign will hit a chord with older members of the church who have moved further afield.

Mr Pritchard added: "Hopefully there are, among The Guardian's readers, many who were baptised, confirmed, married or have loved ones buried here, who, knowing of our plight, would be prepared to make a donation.

"We are doing everything we can to raise the funds but it is all coming from the same people all the time.

"We do a lot of things regarding the fund-raising, such as autumn fairs, coffee mornings and we also have a very active handicraft group," he added.

Mr Pritchard said they had set themselves a target of five years to raise the money but he added the sooner the work begins the better.

"We could really do with a large chunk of the money earlier so we can get on with the pointing," he said.

Mr Chapman added: "The architect did not say it needed to be done tomorrow but it does need doing in the fairly near future."

The church attracts around 60-70 worshippers a week with even more on special occasions according to Mr Chapman.

He explained: "We are a rural parish and that is our disadvantage, that we do not have a lot of housing on our doorstep.

"Our congregation, for the most part, comes from further afield," he continued.

The church, which was used by the Americans while they were stationed at Crewe Hall in the War, has a lot of history hidden inside. It is also a listed building and is in the Crewe Green Conservation Area.

Mr Chapman said the next fund-raising event to be held is a coffee morning on Thursday, April 19, at St Mary's Tea Rooms in Nantwich.

The church is open for regular services every Sunday at 11am and 6.30pm as well as a communion service every Wednesday at 9.30am.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the fund can contact 257259 or send a cheque to 26 Nigel Gresley Close, Crewe, CW1 5GW made out to St Michael's and All Angels.