A GEORGIAN church has received a substantial grant for long-awaited restorations.

St Mary’s Church, Weymouth, is the recipient of £15,000, courtesy of the Dorset Historic Churches Trust.

The significant sum will enable the church, built in 1817, to undertake much needed repairs, including making it accessible for disabled visitors.

Church Warden Janet Marlborough, 81, said: "It is brilliant. We are only a small congregation and any money that comes in helps us so much. We have been waiting for a new kitchen for twelve years, hopefully we will be able to get it finished by Christmas now.

"The money will also help us build a ramp for the disabled, as well as a disabled toilet and baby changing facilities."

Weymouth Street Pastors, an outreach service for vulnerable people that are based at St Mary's, will also have full access to the new facilities.

Mrs Marlborough added: "They work on the streets Friday and Saturday nights and will be able to use the refurbished kitchen; we are very excited about it."

Dorset Historic Churches is a registered charity dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Christian churches across the county.

Church Warden Dr Jeremy Parkinson, 80, said: "All-in-all the work will cost about £100,000. We began raising money for the work 15 years ago after a member of the church, a Mrs Catford, left us quite a lot as her legacy."

Through numerous fundraisers and other grants from the Erskine Muton Trust, St Mary's is finally able to undergo the repairs.

Dr Parkinson added: "We have the money and now we have finally decided to spend it."

Last Friday, Derek Cope, representative for Dorset Historic Churches Trust, met with the church wardens to formally hand over the cheque.

He said: "The grants we give out are made possible largely because of our Dorset Ride and Stride event which raises about £100,000 each year. Of that, 50 per cent is immediately returned to the churches, who apply through our application process."