AS THE nation recovers from losing its most celebrated princess, a Halton church is hoping its very own princess will help in its fight for survival.

St Luke's Church in Farnworth is trying to raise £.5 million pounds for restoration work.

And fund-raisers hope the people of the borough will rally round to help save the church where Princess Mary Sapieha is laid to rest.

Princess Mary Sapieha was Mary Bold, daughter of 19th century Widnes landowner Peter Bold.

In December 1822, Mary married Prince Eustace Sapieha, from the Duchy of Lithuania, and became a princess.

Just two years later, she died from tuberculosis at the tender age of 29.

Her body remains buried at St Luke's and a sculpture by the Italian Tenerani commemorates the princess' beauty, generosity and love.

Publicity officer Stella Lewis thinks the rich history of Halton's oldest church should be cherished and not allowed to decay.

The leaking roof is badly in need of repair and the sandstone walls are crumbling.

She said: "We have in Widnes the body of a princess who actually came from the area.

"There are not many places which have their own princess. It is something we should be proud of.

"Princess Sapieha died at a young age and is remembered for her beauty, kindness and love. Her story echoes what we have been feeling for another princess recently and is very poignant.

"The church is more than 800 years old and we must do something. It is one of the oldest buildings in the area and has been the cultural centre of Widnes for a very long time.

"Rain is leaking through and destroying the fabric of the church. If we neglect it, we are going to neglect one of the most beautiful buildings in Widnes."

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.