A GRANT of nearly £30,000 will be made by Ludlow Town Council to St Laurence’s Church.

It has been decided to allocate £9,000 from council funds for each of the next three years.

This follows an appeal for support as the church embarks upon a major refurbishment project starting with a new heating system.

Shaun Ward, project manager for the work on the church where £700,000 has already been spent, said town council backing would send out an important message.

“Town council support is very important and sends a message as well as enabling other matched funding to be achieved,” he said.

The immediate project is to install a new heating system costing £40,000 of which £23,000 has been raised so far.

“St Laurence’s Church is a community asset, the church community is custodians of that asset, with better heating more people will be able to use and enjoy this incredible building,”

said Shaun Ward.

“The town council move to support the heating project will help us to provide a long term solution to this heating problem.”

He said that the building is open 365 days a year to all members of the community and not just members of the Church of England.

“The Church of England is not a golf club and there is no membership card, it is open to everyone,” said Shaun Ward.

Town councillor Graeme Perks had suggested that there should be a consultation before a decision was made and that if the money is provided half should come from council reserves and the remainder from a special precept.

But Ludlow Town Council decided to go ahead and agree the allocation.